How Long Should Your Newly-Sealed Interlocking Driveway Dry before It Rains?

 

This is an interesting and important question that should be answered before you go ahead and seal your driveway. The rain can wreak havoc on a newly sealed interlocking driveway so it’s important to watch the weather forecasts and double check them again before applying any sealant to the interlocking stones.

 

The driveway sealer that you have placed on your stones should not be exposed to rain for at least 4 to 8 hours. It needs this drying time in order to provide a proper seal. Although 4 to 8 hours is the minimum amount of time you should provide for drying, the longer the better.

 

It can take at least 24 hours for the driveway sealant to cure completely but if you give it 4 hours to dry it should be able to resist the rain and any possible damage that could occur. This does not, however, mean that you should drive your car onto the newly sealed interlocking driveway in as little as 4 to 8 hours. Give it at least 24 hours before walking or driving your car onto the interlocked surface.

Curing Your Interlocking Walkway

 

Your interlocking walkway needs as much time to cure and dry as an interlocking driveway in does. Take this into account when you’re making your plans – especially if your walkway leads directly to your porch and into your front door or backdoor. If you have an interlocking walkway at the front and at the back, you may have to do one at a time in order to have access to your home during the drying period.

 
General Rules and Tips to Follow
 
Here are some of the general rules and tips that you should follow after having sealed an interlocking driveway or an interlocking walkway:
 

• Driveway sealer should never be applied to a wet driveway.
• Give the sealer at least 4 to 8 hours of drying time before rain is expected.
• Don’t drive on your newly-sealed interlocked driveway for 24 to 48 hours after applying the seal.
• Give your sealed driveway or interlocking walkway at least 6 hours to dry before walking on it.

 

How Does Rain Affect the Sealant Applied to Interlocked Driveway Stones?

 

Rain can wash away all of the hard work that you put into your driveway. The sealer will be washed away by the rain if you don’t wait long enough for it to dry. As a result, you’ll end up with no sealant left on the interlocked driveway stones in Toronto or at the very least an uneven surface.
 
You should also make sure that your driveway has had long enough to dry out since the last rainfall. If there is any hint of moisture left on an interlocking walkway or an interlocking driveway, the sealant won’t have a chance to dry properly. Make sure that your driveway or walkway is completely dry before applying any sealant to it.
 
You should also take your sprinkler and irrigation systems into account when sealing your driveway. Make sure that they have been turned off and haven’t been on for a few days before you start your sealing project. As with the rain, you should not turn on your irrigation system again for at least 4 to 8 hours after you have sealed the area.
 
What to Do If Unexpected Rain Falls before the Driveway Is Dry
 
There really isn’t a lot you can do about it at this point so don’t waste a lot of time worrying. Wait until the rain has finished and your driveway dries before you assess the situation. If you notice that your interlocking driveway looks patchy in some areas with some spots looking glossier than others, this is an indication that some of the sealer has been washed away by the rain. 
 
You can even this out by resealing the portions that look duller than the glossier ones when the driveway is completely dry and no rain is in the forecast. If, on the other hand, you notice that the entire driveway looks dull, this means that you’ll have to redo the sealing project from start to finish.
 
Apply Your Sealant when the Weather Conditions Are Right
 
Sealant should be applied to an interlocking walkway or an interlocking driveway when the temperature is at least 10°C. If you apply it below this temperature it will slow down the drying time significantly or may even prevent sealing from properly curing.
 
In general, the higher the temperature, the faster the drying time will be. Humidity can also be a factor in terms of drying out your driveway after sealing it so do your best to choose a day when the humidity will be low.
 
Since the advised temperature conditions are above 10°C, snow doesn’t really play a part in the equation when you’re trying to figure out how precipitation will affect your driveway. If someone were to apply sealant right before a snowfall, the sealant would simply freeze and then once the driveway began to thaw it would wash away.
 
For these reasons, look for a sunny day to seal your interlocking driveway and interlocking walkway. Make sure that the temperature will remain above 10° during the entire drying time and be sure to check and double-check the forecast to make sure that no rain will be arriving in the near future.
 
It’s a lot easier to put off doing the sealing project than it would be to correct any problems later on. Make sure that you choose the perfect day to apply the sealant to avoid any issues. If you have any questions at all about sealing your interlocking driveway, an interlocking walkway or are interested in getting a new driveway or walkway, please visit our website now at www.egeinterlock.com. We are the interlocking driveway specialists you can count on when you have any questions or concerns or want to upgrade your existing exterior.