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How Long Does Self Leveling Compound Take to Dry? (Answered)

Self leveling compound is mostly used when constructing a building or home. This is used in leveling the floor properly. After leveling the floor, you can adequately cover the surface with whatever you want and create a smooth surface.

You may ask how long it takes to dry a self leveling compound. Let us provide the information you are looking for with some additional information regarding self leveling compounds as well.

How long does self leveling compound take to dry?

Self leveling compound takes around 1 – 6 hours to dry. The time to dry this compound varies based on the type of compound you are using. There are certain self leveling compounds out in the market which can dry in less than an hour. But usually, it takes a maximum of 6 hours to dry.

The drying time of self leveling compounds varies from type to type. Normal drying self leveling compound usually dries within 24 hours. But this depends on the thickness of the compound you are using. 

This is the general thumb rule when it comes to determining the time to dry of self leveling compound.

Fast drying self leveling compound is a revolutionizing new technology of compound. This takes much less time compared to other available self leveling compounds. These usually take around 1 – 3 hours to dry properly. 

But the actual time of drying this kind of self leveling compound varies depending on the temperature, humidity, direct access to air and thickness of the application.

It is generally said that the minimum time of drying self leveling compound can be 1 – 1.5 hours. The compound may take less time depending on some environmental aspects. The amount of compound you have used is also a matter behind the time it takes to dry.

A slow drying self leveling compound may dry faster if the temperature is increased. If the environment around you is more than the optimal temperature, the compound may dry faster. 

It is said that 68 degrees Fahrenheit is the optimal drying temperature for all self leveling compounds. The opposite may also happen if the temperature drops.

The humidity around the self leveling compound plays a vital role in the drying time of the self leveling compound. The ideal humidity to dry the self leveling compound within 4 – 6 hours is around 40 – 60 percent. 

If the humidity drops below 50 percent, the time to dry the self leveling compound decreases a lot and may decline to an hour. But if the humidity is more than 60 percent, the time to dry may increase a lot and may require more than 24 hours to dry in some cases.

How long before you can walk on self levelling compound?

You can walk on a self leveling compound after 4 hours. You can start walking on self leveling compound after the compound has mostly dried up. This time is usually different on different brands of self leveling compound. 

Manufacturers typically claim that you can start walking on the self leveling compound after it has mostly dried up.

The time to walk on a self leveling compound is around 4 – 5 hours on average. This is usually claimed by the manufacturer. But experts say it is a good practice to walk on a self leveling compound after letting it dry overnight. 

But if you are in a rush, you can start walking on the self leveling compound right after 4 hours.

The actual time usually varies based on some factors. Manufacturers claim the time that they say you can start walking on the compound based on optimal temperatures around the self leveling compound. 

This means that you need to have an optimal temperature and humidity. If the temperature and humidity around the self leveling compound are not optimal, it may not be ready for walking and you may end up damaging the application.

How do I know if my self leveling compound is dry?

It is crucial for you to know if your self leveling compound is dry or not. Depending on if it is dry or not, many things depend afterward. The work you need to do on the self leveling compound depends on the duration of the dry time deeply.

Although there is no written method to ensure if your self leveling compound is dry or not, there are some popular ways to check if the self leveling compound has dried or not. The simplest way is to let the compound dry overnight. 

Usually, most self leveling compounds dry within 24 hours. So, at least let the compound dry for 24 hours after application.

You may use a nail to ensure if the self leveling compound is dry or not. Set the nail on the self leveling compound that you have poured at the place you want and put some pressure on the nail. If the nail sinks into the compound, the application is yet not dry.

After that, you can also do a footprint test. If the compound is not dry, it may attract the footprints of your shoe. This is another way to check if your self leveling compound has dried or not.

It would be best if you keep in mind that these methods are not approved by any manufacturer. But these methods have been used by experts over the years and have been used by them. So, you may follow these simple steps and check if your self leveling compound is dry or wet.

4 factors that affect self levelling compound dry time

There are multiple factors that affect self leveling compound dry time. These can increase or decrease the drying time of the self leveling compound. These are called the self leveling compound drying factors. 

All these factors play an essential role in the drying time of self leveling compounds.

You may want to know the factors that affect the drying time of the compound. Let us discuss the 4 factors that vastly affect self leveling compound drying time.

Temperature:

The temperature around the self leveling compound affects the dry time a lot. Temperature plays a key role in drying the compound. 

It is said by the manufacturers that 68 degrees Fahrenheit is the optimal drying temperature for all self leveling drying compounds. In Celsius, this is around 20 degrees. If the temperature is above the optimal temperature, the compound may dry faster. 

The opposite may also happen if the temperature drops below the optimal range.

Humidity:

Humidity plays a vital role in the dry time of self leveling compounds. Humidity is actually the water that is in the air around us. The less the amount of humidity, the less the drying time would be for the self leveling compound. 

It is said that 40 – 60 perfect humidity is the optimal range for letting the self leveling compound dry.

Thickness of application:

The thickness of how much self leveling compound you have applied is another matter in terms of the dry time of it. The general thumb rule is one day of dry time for 1mm of self leveling compound.

How to make a self levelling compound dry faster?

There are many ways to dry a self leveling compound dry faster. Experts follow various ways to increase the speed of the drying process. If you want to make your self leveling compound dry faster, here are the methods you may try out.

Use fast drying self leveling compound:

Fast drying self leveling compound is usually a newer self leveling compound with more unique technology. This compound typically dries quickly compared to other normal self leveling compounds. 

This new technology can dry the moisture of the self leveling compound faster.

But this compound heavily depends on the environment around itself. If the humidity is within the optimal range, it can dry quickly as intended.

Ensure better airflow over the self leveling compound:

Airflow over the application of self leveling compound is crucial. If you can ensure the airflow around the area of application, you may dry the self leveling compound faster. 

You can increase the airflow by opening the window and doors around the self leveling compound and letting all the air in the area.

Increase the temperature around:

The optimal temperature for drying self leveling compound is around 68 degrees Fahrenheit. 

If the temperature around the self leveling compound increases more than the optimal temperature, the self leveling compound may dry faster. This depends on the formula that the self leveling compound has used. 

You may use a commercial blower style dryer to increase the temperature and let the compound dry faster.

Final Thoughts 

Self leveling compound takes around 4 – 6 hours to dry properly. It may take a minimum of 1 hour depending on the type of the compound you are using. The temperature, humidity and the thickness of how much you are using also make a big difference in the drying time of self leveling compound.