Q: How Long Does Concrete Sealer Take to Dry?
A: Once you apply a concrete sealer the dry time is going to depend on a number of factors including the temperature, humidity, dew point, and the type of concrete sealer or concrete coating that was applied.
Generally speaking epoxy floor coatings and durable urethane coatings take the longest to dry. A full cure can range anywhere from 1-7 days. A full cure is the time it takes for a concrete coating to fully dry to the point where the coating can handle vehicle and forklift traffic. Other cure times include light foot traffic which is usually 24 hours after the concrete coating has been applied, and the re-coat time which is the window to re-coat an epoxy floor coating or a urethane coating without having to de-gloss it. If you wait too long to apply a urethane top coat after applying an epoxy base coat you will need to lightly sand the top of it before applying the top coating in order to get good adhesion.
Decorative concrete sealers have the shortest dry time of 1-6 hours since the are topical. Solvent based acrylic concrete sealers are usually dry to the touch in 1-3 hours depending on the time of application and the relative humidity. Water based acrylic concrete sealers are usually dry to the touch in 3-6 hours depending on the time of application and the relative humidity.
Penetrating concrete sealers take longer to dry than decorative concrete sealers because they penetrate deep into the concrete and dry from the inside out. Depending on the temperature at the time of application and the relative humidity this can be anywhere from 2-8 hours. Penetrating concrete sealers usually require two coats of sealer applied wet-on-wet. What this means is the second coat is applied on top of the first coat while the first coat is still wet. You do not want to apply a second coat after the first coat has dried or the first coat will try to repel the second coat. The second wet-on-wet coat is applied anywhere from 1-15 minutes after the first coat is applied.
If you are looking for product specific recommendations check out our best concrete sealers article.
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Short answer: most outdoor concrete should be sealed, and many indoor slabs benefit too. Concrete is porous. Unsealed, it soaks up water, deicing salts, oil and other contaminants, and that is what leads to spalling, pitting, cracking, staining and mold. Sealing costs a small fraction of what it costs to replace a slab, and a good penetrating sealer can protect concrete for years between applications.
What Sealing Protects Against
- Freeze-thaw damage: water that soaks into concrete expands when it freezes, breaking the surface apart over time.
- Deicing salts: salt and chlorides, including salt tracked in on your car, accelerate spalling and corrode reinforcing steel.
- Stains: oil, grease, leaves and rust soak into unsealed concrete and are hard to remove.
- Moisture and mold: in basements and shaded areas, a water-repellent sealer helps limit dampness, mildew, moss and efflorescence.
- Dusting and wear: densifiers harden the surface so garage and basement floors shed less dust.
Which Concrete Should Be Sealed?
Sealers can be used on driveways, patios, walkways, pool decks, garage floors, basements, stamped concrete, exposed aggregate, pavers, brick and stone. Sealing matters most for:
- Driveways and walkways in cold climates that see snow, ice and road salt
- Garage floors exposed to oil, fluids and tire traffic
- Basement floors and walls with dampness or efflorescence
- Stamped and colored concrete, where a sealer protects and enhances the color
When Sealing Isn’t Worth It
Sealing has limits. It won’t fix structural cracks, settling or drainage problems; fix those first. Brand-new concrete usually needs to cure before most sealers go on (see how long to wait to seal new concrete). And concrete that’s fully covered by flooring indoors usually needs moisture testing more than a sealer.
Which Type of Sealer to Use
- Penetrating sealers (silanes, siloxanes, silicates) soak in, leave a natural look and last the longest outdoors. See best penetrating concrete sealers.
- Acrylic sealers add gloss or a “wet look” and enhance color, but wear faster outdoors. See best acrylic concrete sealers.
- Epoxy, urethane and polyaspartic coatings build a hard, chemical-resistant film for garages, shops and warehouses. See best epoxy floor coatings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if you don’t seal concrete?
It will still last, but it absorbs water, salt and stains. In cold climates, unsealed driveways often show surface scaling and pitting after a few winters.
How often should concrete be sealed?
It depends on the sealer. Penetrating sealers typically last five years or more; acrylics often need reapplying every one to three years outdoors. See how long concrete sealers last.
Is sealing concrete worth the cost?
Usually, yes. Sealing a driveway costs a small fraction of replacing it. See how much it costs to seal a concrete driveway.
Ready to choose a product? Start with our best concrete sealers guide.
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How long do concrete sealers last? In order to effectively answer this question we first need to determine the type of concrete sealer that was used in order to determine the longevity of it. We have broken down concrete sealers into the following categories:
Decorative Concrete Sealers: decorative concrete sealers usually refer to acrylic or lacquer based products. They add color enhancement, shine, wet look and gloss finishes to concrete. They have the shortest longevity; since they sit on the surface of the concrete and do not penetrate into the concrete they are at high risk of UV degradation and wear. Decorative concrete sealers are available as solvent or water based products and can last anywhere from 6 months to 3 years. Solvent based concrete sealers will last longer than water based concrete sealers. Keep in mind that if you like the decorative look you are going to have to pay to keep it up.
Durable Concrete Coatings: durable concrete coatings refer to epoxy and urethane based products. The name “durable concrete coating” is appropriate because they are able to withstand abrasions, chemicals, machinery, equipment and heavy traffic. The most important factor in regards to how long do concrete sealers last is surface preparation. If you do not properly acid etch or grind the floor prior to using this type of coating they will fail much sooner. If the concrete has been properly prepared durable concrete coatings can last upwards of ten years.
Penetrating Concrete Sealers: penetrating concrete sealers are usually silicate, silane, and siliconate based products. They penetrate into the concrete and dry clear; they do not leave any surface enhancement or sheen. Silicate based densifiers last for the life of the concrete. Once they are applied you do not need to apply them again. That being said you do not want to use a silicate based densifier without also using a penetrating water repellent or penetrating waterproofing concrete sealer. Water repellent and waterproofing silane and siliconate based products can last anywhere from 5-10 years. The longevity will depend on UV exposure, deicing salt exposure and vehicle traffic among other factors. We like penetrating concrete sealers because they protect the concrete from salts, water and stains, and they wear extremely well in comparison to decorative concrete sealers.
If you are looking for the Best Concrete Sealer for 2018 check out our review
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One of the most common questions we are asked is how long do you have to wait to seal concrete.
If you would like to seal the concrete on the same day that it has been poured or sooner then the industry standard 28 days, you can use a concrete cure and seal sealer. These concrete cure and seal sealers help concrete hydrate by holding moisture in a protective film. There are two types of cure and seals, penetrating cure and seals and dissipating cure and seals. The dissipating cure and seals that help concrete to cure, are typically of an acrylic chemistry and will wear away in the first six months or so. At this point you are then free to apply a penetrating concrete sealer or a decorative concrete sealer if you desire a wet look or high gloss finish.
In order to avoid this two step process, you can use a penetrating concrete cure and seal which will help to fully hydrate the slab in a protective film without wearing away. Since there is usually some sort of silane in a penetrating cure and seal, the concrete will be protected from deicing salts and freeze-thaw cycles. You do not need to worry about removing the cure and seal in order to apply a penetrating concrete sealer nor do you need to wait for it to dissipate. These products are all-in-one solutions that need to be applied by the contractor at the time the concrete is poured.
If you are not applying a concrete cure and seal, or if you have time to wait most sealers require about 28 days for the concrete to fully cure before applying a concrete sealer. Some manufacturers have products available that can be applied as soon as new concrete can withstand the weight of the installer, but typically if you are looking to apply a penetrating concrete sealer, decorative or epoxy/urethane coating you will need to wait the industry standard 28 days for concrete to fully cure before applying a concrete sealer.
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Concrete floors can be classified as concrete garage floors, concrete basement floors and interior concrete floors. When it comes to choosing concrete floor sealers there are a number of factors to take into account.
- Where is the concrete floor located: basement, garage, etc.?
- What type of properties are you looking for: chemical resistance, stain repellency, waterproofing?
- What type of finish is desired: natural, gloss, polished?
Here are a few general product recommendations based on the scenarios above.
Best Concrete Floor Sealers for Concrete Basement Floors:
When it comes to sealing a basement floor you first must determine how wet or how much moisture is trapped in the concrete. Is the concrete floor wet, damp or moist? If the floor is wet or damp test the moisture content to figure out just how wet it is. If the moisture is high it may be best to use a moisture mitigating epoxy or moisture barrier coating, especially if you are going to be applying flooring. Using a moisture barrier coating product will prevent all moisture from coming up and damaging the floor.
Best Concrete Floor Sealers for Concrete Garage Floors:
Garages can range in size and scope so choosing the right sealer comes down to the functionality. Is the garage a working shop that will be exposed to heavy oils, fluids and chemicals? If so an epoxy system would be the best option. If you live in an area where salts and chlorides are used on the roadways a penetrating salt repellent sealer would be your best bet.
Best Concrete Floor Sealers for Chemical Resistance:
If you are using a concrete floor sealer on a warehouse floor that is exposed to a lot of chemicals it is highly recommended that you use an epoxy system. Even though there is a lot of surface preparation required before applying this type of coating system, chemicals and acids will be repelled and will not damage the concrete or the coating.
Best Concrete Floor Sealers for Stain Repellency:
If you are looking for long term stain repellency (the stain would sit on the surface for an extended amount of time before clean up) and you do not want any stains to touch the concrete it would be best to go with an epoxy coating system. If you prefer a more cost effective penetrating sealer and would clean spills up quickly, or pressure wash the concrete to remove the stain you can use a penetrating concrete stain repellent sealer.
Best Concrete Floor Sealers for Waterproofing:
There are two types of waterproofing concrete sealers. The first category is moisture barrier coatings that are applied to concrete floors. They are commonly used before installing carpet, hardwood flooring and tile. They are able to withstand high amounts of water vapor transmission and hydrostatic pressure. The second category is penetrating concrete sealers. They are excellent choices for preventative waterproofing and can be applied to concrete floors and concrete walls.
Best Concrete Floor Sealers – Clear: Use a penetrating concrete sealer which will not change the look of the concrete; it will dry clear as if no sealer was used.
Best Concrete Floor Sealers – Gloss:
If moisture is not an issue and you are looking for more of a decorative concrete floor sealer use a solvent based acrylic sealer which will leave a high gloss finish. If you are looking for a more durable option use an epoxy coating system which will leave a gloss finish and be extremely durable to forklift traffic, chemicals and abrasions.
Best Concrete Floor Sealers – Polished:
In order to get that polished floor look you would first need to use a concrete densifier. Concrete densifiers are silicate based and help to strengthen and harden the concrete before the polishing process. You would then use a concrete floor polishing machine with different grit floor pads to polish the concrete. The finished floor would be similar to the floors that are seen in big box hardware stores such as Home Depot and Lowes.
