How long before I can drive on a new concrete driveway in New Brunswick?

Wait a minimum of 7 days before driving passenger vehicles on a new concrete driveway in New Brunswick, and 28 days before allowing heavy vehicles like trucks, delivery vans, or RVs. In NB's cooler climate — particularly in spring and fall — extend these timelines, as concrete cures more slowly when temperatures are below 15 degrees Celsius.

Concrete does not simply dry — it cures through a chemical reaction called hydration between cement and water. This process gains strength rapidly in the first few days and continues gradually for months. The 7-day point is when concrete reaches roughly 70% of its 28-day design strength — sufficient for passenger vehicle loads on a properly thick, properly based driveway slab. Full design strength is reached at approximately 28 days.

NB-specific timing considerations: The optimal NB pouring season is May through October, but spring and fall temperatures significantly affect curing speed. In May and early June, when temperatures are cool (10-15 degrees Celsius), curing slows and you should add 2-3 extra days to the minimum wait before driving. In July and August, warm temperatures accelerate curing — 7 days is a solid minimum in warm weather. In September and October, watch the nighttime lows — if temperatures drop near freezing in the first week after the pour, the curing concrete must be protected with insulating blankets, and you should wait longer before loading the slab.

Protecting the curing concrete: The curing period is when your driveway is most vulnerable. Your contractor should apply a curing compound immediately after finishing, or keep the surface moist with wet burlap and plastic sheeting for at least 7 days. Do not let the surface dry out in sun or wind — this causes surface cracking, reduced strength, and poor durability. On sunny NB summer days, check that the curing compound was applied or that the plastic is still in place.

The 7-day caution: Even at 7 days, avoid sharp turns in place, which concentrate point loads that can damage the surface. Do not spin tires or brake hard on fresh concrete. Keep vehicles off the edges of the slab, which are the thinnest and weakest points — the first 12 inches from the edge of a driveway should not be loaded until 14 days have passed.

The 28-day rule for heavy vehicles: Concrete trucks, oil delivery tankers, moving trucks, and any vehicle over 5,000 kg should stay off the new driveway for at least 28 days. Inform anyone making deliveries during this period — a single oil delivery truck on a 10-day-old slab can cause cracking that would not have occurred a month later.