Why sealcoat an asphalt driveway?
What does it do? Oxidization from the sun, rain and snow, freeze and thaw cycles… these elements all play their part in deteriorating the life an asphalt driveway. Sealcoating has shown to slow down this process and extend the life of an asphalt driveway dramatically, saving thousands of dollars in replacement costs! Not only that… sealcoating can give your driveway that beautiful, new, rejuvenated look again.
How much does sealcoating cost?
Generally speaking, having your driveway sealcoated by a professional can cost between .10c and .25c per square foot. Pricing can vary depending on a few different factors.
The size of your driveway, how much cleaning is involved to prepare the driveway, how much hand work is involved, how much vegetation and overgrowth there is on the edges.
Other factors to consider may be the amount of crack filling that needs to be done and if there is any patchwork needed which add to the costs. Most companies will provide free estimates for you but it's very important to use a reputable company.
How long does one application of driveway sealer last?
Generally speaking, a good sealcoat job on a residential driveway should last approximately 3 to 5 years. But there are several factors that can vary that approximation.
Is it a spray application, or a squeegee application? How many coats are being applied?
Is it a quality product? How detailed was the preparation or cleaning of the asphalt done prior to the application? What kind and how much traffic is there on your driveway?
These are just some of the factors that can determine the life of a good sealcoat job.
How thick is a coating of driveway sealer?
Driveway sealer is just like painting the outside of your home.
Once it's finished, we can still see the natural contours of the surface, but they'll be much less evident depending upon the age of the asphalt and the amount of raveling and cracking that has occurred. Just remember, sealcoating your driveway will not make your asphalt driveway smooth like a brand new paving job!
When sealcoating a driveway, how many coats should be applied?
There are two types of applications… spray and squeegee.
If the sealer is being applied with spraying equipment, then 2 coats of sealer is recommended. If it's being applied by squeegee, then only one coat is necessary. But which application is better?
How often should driveway sealer be applied?
Generally speaking every 3 to 5 years is the norm. But there are several factors that can vary that approximation. Is it a spray application, or a squeegee application. How many coats are being applied? Is it a quality product? How detailed was the preparation or cleaning of the asphalt done? What kind and how much traffic is there on your driveway?
These are just some of the factors to consider when determining the frequency asphalt sealer should be applied.
How long does driveway sealer take to dry?
After you've sealed your entire driveway, water based sealers can take up to 6 to 8 hours to fully cure and dry on a hot sunny day. On a cool day, that time can be stretched to up to 24 hours! Asphalt sealer manufacturers recommend ambient temperatures, for proper application of sealer. We highly recommend sealing only on a warm or hot day.
Seal when it's too cool outside and you run into all kinds of risks that will ruin a good sealcoat job.
Considering sealcoating your driveway yourself?
Is driveway sealcoating hard work? Sealcoating a driveway can be compared to painting a house! There's stringent cleaning required, filling in the cracks and making any necessary repairs before applying the sealer. The only difference is instead of climbing ladders, it's on the ground! A good sealcoat job is only as good as the preparation.
Sealcoating your driveway yourself?
To determine the amount of sealer needed to sealcoat a driveway is simple.
First we need to know the area or square footage of the surface of the driveway.
Then, divide that square footage by 50.
Most asphalt sealers cover approximately 50 square feet per gallon for one coat of a squeegee application. Determining the square footage of your driveway may seem a little difficult since there are so many curves and angles, but it's simple.
Simply break your driveway down into squares and triangles. Multiply the length x the width, add up all of the totals and there you'll have the square footage.
Should the cracks in an asphalt driveway be filled before sealcoating?
Yes… as a matter of fact keeping cracks sealed up from moisture is extremely important and should be done every fall. This will minimize the amount of moisture entering the cracks during those freeze and thaw cycles and help extend the life of your asphalt driveway!
How do we choose the right brand of asphalt sealer?
There are several brands of asphalt sealer manufacturers located all around the country. Now, we can purchase asphalt sealers from a local building supply store but the quality of these materials are not going to be that of a commercial supplier. Investing in a professional grade sealer is well worth the time and the minor additional investment for a job that will last.
How clean does the asphalt need to be before sealcoating a driveway?
Before sealcoating, the pavement should be free of any sand, dirt or debris that would keep the sealer from adhering to the asphalt properly. To do this, a good wire broom is an excellent tool to loosen up any free sand and dirt form the voids within the asphalt. For a premium seal, first clean the driveway off with a wire broom, and then spray it off with water using a higher pressure water nozzle hooked to a garden hose. Then wait one day, seal cracks, make minor repairs and prime all the oil spots with an asphalt primer. Then it's ready to be sealed!
How soon after a new paving job should a driveway be sealed?
This is a very important question and one of the most commonly asked questions.
Sealing an asphalt driveway to soon after installation can be extremely detrimental to maximizing the life of our investment. Once it's installed, asphalt begins the curing process immediately starting from the outside in. Sealing too soon can damage the surface. Asphalt should not be sealed for at minimum 6 months to a year.
Will driveway sealer harm my pets?
Asphalt sealer with Coal tar may irritate your pets feet if they happen to walk in it while it's still wet.
All animals should be secured away from the driveway during application.
Once the sealer is dry, which can take from 6 to 24 hours, it's safe for them to walk on.
Be aware though, the dry sealer can still turn your pets feet black and can be tracked into your home!
Will driveway sealer track into my home?
Once the sealer is dry, which can take from 6 to 24 hours, it's safe to walk on. Be aware though, the dry sealer can still turn the soles of your shoes black and can be tracked into your home!
Are there different colors of driveway sealer?
Some of us look at the crisp coal black color of sealcoat and wonder… are there any colors available available other than black? Well, now there is! Recently a major manufacturer of asphalt sealer added colored sealer to their list! There are a variety of beautiful colors to choose from that are more natural looking and blend into the surrounding environment beautifully!
How soon can a driveway be driven on after it's been sealed?
Even though it can take anywhere from 6 to 8 hours to completely dry on a warm sunny day, we recommend waiting overnight before driving on newly sealed asphalt. Keep in mind, regardless of how long we wait, some minor scarring of the surface may occur from sharp turns and power steering divots.
Should oil spots be treated prior to driveway sealcoating?
After thoroughly cleaning the asphalt, but prior to applying the sealcoat, all oil spots should be cleaned and treated with an oil spot primer. A little extra preparation can go a long way when it comes to oil spots.
My driveway is pretty beat up, will sealcoat it make it look brand new again?
Don't be fooled into thinking an inexpensive sealcoat application will make your driveway suddenly appear new again. As a matter of fact, sealcoating a raveled, cracked up and deteriorated asphalt driveway would be like repainting a wrecked car… it may have a fresh coat of paint, but it's still a wrecked car!
Is there anything that can be added to sealer to make it more durable?
A commercial asphalt sealant manufacturer will have more additives like rubber, sand and hardeners that will provide more durability and will last much longer than a sealer purchased at a building supply store.
When sealcoting a driveway, which application is better… spray or squeegee?
Truth is either one is better than none at all. For a long term even wear, we prefer a spray application. While a squeegee application may be a tad bit more durable, it can wear much more unevenly.
How often should cracks be filled in a driveway?
Cracks in an asphalt driveway allow water to penetrate the subgrade leaving it vulnerable to undermining and freeze and thaw cycles. This can cause pavement failures leading to alligatoring or potholes over time. Therefore, it's best to seal up cracks every fall.
Fall is the optimum time to seal up cracks as the temperature is cooler and the cracks are opened up at their widest.
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