Dyes dry

This could be a critical issue on fast-track projects where you need to open the surface to traffic as soon as possible.

Chemical stains require the longest drying times between coats (typically at least 5 hours) to give the stain time to react. Then the stain residue must be rinsed off and the surface permitted to dry before a sealer can be applied. Water-based stains offer the advantage of shorter drying times (about 2 hours) with no rinsing required.

Dyes generally dry very quickly, reducing the amount of time it takes to complete a job by as much as 60, according to Davis. "Some solvent-based dyes dry in less than a minute. Plus, cleaning is minimal and does not require water," he says.