Not having anywhere to park during the completion of your driveway project can be very inconvenient. However, waiting the suggested amount of time before parking, driving, or walking on it will be so worth it.
How long should you wait before parking on your new concrete driveway?
Concrete professionals suggest waiting at least seven days after the crew is finished before parking or driving on it. The reason for this is because it takes one week for your new concrete to achieve 90% of its full potential strength.
This 7-day waiting period does not apply to heavy machinery or equipment, however. For industrial vehicles like RVs or buses, you should wait at least 28 days before parking on your new concrete driveway.
If you drive, walk, or park on your new concrete any sooner than the recommended time, here’s what may happen:
- It may crack
- You may leave tire tracks or footprints in the concrete, which could also ruin your shoes
- The joints may break
- You might weaken the future strength of the concrete
How long should you wait before walking on your new concrete driveway?
You should wait at least 24 hours before walking on your freshly poured concrete. However, make sure not to drag your feet, twist around on it, or let your pets with claws walk on it until later. Bikes, toys, and skateboards should also be kept away from the driveway. To minimize scuffing and scratching, wait at least three days before doing any excess activity on top of the concrete.
Keep in mind that the above times only apply to concrete driveways. There are different time periods recommended for different materials. Be sure to ask your contractor for a recommended time period of how long you must wait before stepping or driving on it. It will save you a lot of headache. At Port Aggregates, we offer several different materials for your residential construction projects, including ready mix concrete, precast concrete, limestone, sand, and gravel. Contact us today to request a quote!
