Sealants can take anywhere from 4 to 12 hours to dry before you can walk on them, but they will continue to harden for up to 48 hours after application. Concrete sealed with an acrylic sealer must not be stepped on (except for one layer), crawled, or wet for at least 36 to 48 hours. The Universeal range of floor sealants only requires a few hours of drying time, but it's best to wait at least 4 hours before walking on the pavement. If the sun is out, it's recommended to wait for a minimum of 2 hours. It usually takes 24 to 48 hours for paving stone sealer to dry.
However, if it's a particularly humid day, it could take a bit longer. To ensure that the sealant is completely dry before walking on it or using it again, it's best to wait until the sealant is completely dry. If you pour water directly onto a sealed cobblestone surface, some of it will seep into the cracks and pores where the sealant was applied. The added weight of cars and foot traffic can affect the sealing capacity of pavers, which otherwise feel dry to the touch. Paving stone sealants come in a variety of formulations, but the basic process for applying paver sealant is to clean the pavers, apply the sealant, and then clean or move any excess.
If an uneven amount of sealer is used, it can create a visible line between unpainted pavers. In general, paving stone sealants should be applied every 2 or 3 years, depending on the amount of traffic the pavers receive. As a general rule, most types of sealants are safe to walk on after 12 hours. If you don't want your pavers to look wet or shiny, you can use a natural-looking sealant that won't change their appearance. The most important reason for sealing your pavers when they are newly installed is to protect them from deterioration and preserve their color.
