How Long Does It Take Flex Seal To Dry? (Answered with Explanation)
If you have any cracks, holes, and fractures in Concrete, Bricks, tiles, Ceramics, Wood, Metals, Glass, Plastic, Drywall, Rubber or Vinyl, then flex seal is an excellent product to fix them completely. It provides an instant solution to water leakages and you can fix anything that is cracked using a flex seal.
But before using it, you must know how long will it take for the flex seal to dry. Because only then you can properly make use of the product and plan ahead before getting into the DIY project.
How Long Does It Take Flex Seal To Dry?
Flex Seal Spray and Flex Seal Liquid will dry to the touch within 2 to 4 hours while they take around 48 hours to completely cure. The manufacturer recommends allowing a single coat of flex seal to dry for 24 hours before applying another coat. This drying time can vary according to the external environment and weather conditions.
In order to understand the drying mechanism of a flex seal you must know what it is and how it can provide a complete seal. Let us discuss the chemistry of flex seal.
What is Flex Seal?
Flex seal is a rubberized liquid made up of elastomers which are a type of polymer material that is like rubber. It is like the styrene-butadiene copolymer which is found in tires, gaskets, etc., and has the ability to dry quickly under dry and humid conditions.
Since it is an organic polymer, it can form strong crosslink bonds which don’t easily break under normal conditions. So, if you apply a flex seal to the above-mentioned materials, it will instantly form crosslinks under the dry air and creates a strong bond.
Also, the rubber-like polymer material is resistant to water and doesn’t degrade under moisture. It doesn’t break under cold conditions too. Until you keep the flex seal under extreme heat, it will remain intact and provides a perfect seal.
Drying of Flex Seal
The flex seal spray has the liquid elastomer in a pressurized metal can. It is mixed with solvents to maintain it in liquid form. When you press the nozzle and spray the flex seal onto a surface, it will start to react with the air and form crosslinks. This is the case with Flex Seal Liquid too.
When you apply an even coat of the Flex seal, you can find it to dry to the touch within 2 hours. In certain conditions, it may even take around 4 hours. When you touch the coated surface, you can still feel it to be mushy and soft.
But if you leave it to dry further for more time, the polymer will start to cure. Curing is the process where the liquid polymer will start to form strong bonds and solidify completely. So, after the initial process of drying, the Flex seal will cure for about 24 to 48 hours.
It is important to leave the polymer to dry for the recommended hours so that you can avoid damage in the future. With proper drying, it will last for years without any issues.
What Happens if the Flex Seal gets Wet Before it Cures?
Flex seal spray or liquid can form a dry layer as soon as it is exposed to the air. So, even if it rains when you are applying a coat, it will not affect it. Since the material is rubber polymer, it will not react with moisture or water. You can even use the flex seal for sealing cracked pipes in your French drain.
Therefore, if it suddenly rains when you are applying Flex seal or soon after the application, you don’t have to worry about it. The curing may take some more time but it will not damage the coating. As for very heavy rains, some products might wash away and you might have to apply another coat after 24 hours.
The manufacturer claims that you can even use the Flex seal under wet surfaces. But it is better to use it on a dry surface to get better results. Therefore, before application of the Flex seal ensure a dry surface. After application wetness will not cause any issues.
Is Flex Seal Weather Resistant?
Once the flex seal has dried and cured completely, it is completely resistant to all kinds of weather. You can confidently use it under the rain, snow, ice, summer heat, etc. It is a permanent fix and you don’t have to worry about its integrity.
The only thing that can affect the longevity of Flex seal is extreme temperatures. That is, for a flex seal spray, it can hold its integrity till 140⁰F (60⁰C) after application. While applying it is best to apply a flex seal on surfaces with a temperature range of 0⁰F to 100⁰F.
Since weather conditions don’t go to the extent of 140⁰F, it is perfectly safe and resistant. You can use the product anywhere around the world.
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Conclusion
Flex seal is an excellent product to fix a crack in your furniture or holes in the metal roof. It can easily provide a protective seal and prevents damage from external conditions. It can also provide you with a waterproof coating and protect your things. It takes some time to dry and cure but once cured, it is the best rubber coating protection.
