Seal Coating Tips

Do you have an asphalt driveway?  It is important to know that asphalt driveways need to be sealed every one to three years to protect against the elements.  Sealing your driveway will not only make it last longer, it will also make it look better.  Sealing will help protect your driveway from the harsh elements. Seal coating will help keep the extreme cold, water and ice from getting into your pavement which will lead to crumbling and cracking.  You can do seal coating yourself or hire a professional.  If you choose to do it yourself, you could save from $300-$1000.

If your asphalt driveway has cracks and holes larger than ¼” wide you will need to repair them before sealing. If the cracks are less than ¼” wide, you can proceed with sealing as they will be filled by the seal coat.  Ideally, the temperature outside should be at least 50 degrees and no rain in the forecast for at least two days and preferably a week. Asphalt repair is actually a relatively fast and easy process if you have the right equipment and products to do the job.  You will need to have a 3” long bristle steel brush, a crack cleaning machine or a screwdriver.  Be sure to remove all dirt, weeds and other vegetation from the cracks to at least ½” deep.  Remove all dust and pebbles from your driveway with a broom or leaf blower.  Any debris left on your driveway will cause bubbles and imperfections during the final seal coating.  Fill the crack with a good quality cold liquid or hot crack filler.  When filling the cracks, make sure you don’t overfill them.  Overfilling will cause smearing and imperfections in the final sealing.  After filling the cracks, use masking tape to cover the trim such as sidewalks, sides of house, etc.  One more reminder, you’ll want to seal the cracks with flexible rubberized asphalt that bonds to the crack walls and moves with the pavement and will prevent water seepage.  The goal is to keep water out.   Water in asphalt will accelerate deterioration of your pavement. 

There are many highly engineered sealants formulated to work in the some of the worst climate conditions.  Before you purchase the sealant, contact the manufacturer to find out how the sealant was designed to perform.   You want a product that will withstand the heat of the summer without being soft, tacky and track.   Conversely, you will want a sealant that will be flexible in freezing temperatures.  It is probably best to purchase the highest grade and longest life product.  Since you’ll be using a brush or squeegee to spread the sealant, you will use a little more product than if you were spraying it.  Most sealers will require some stirring even if they claim they’re “no stir”.  Some homeowners have found that leaving the bucket upside down overnight will help “mix” the sealant.  Starting from the garage, pour a thick line of sealer across the width of the driveway.  It makes sense to work on the trim first and the tape you laid down will make it easier to get close to the edge.  After completing the trim, use the brush or squeegee to spread the sealant you’ve already poured.  One thick coat works well or if you prefer to do a thin coat, you should spread one thin coat on day one and another thin coat on day two.  Continue spreading the sealant to the end of the driveway.  Be sure to mark off the end of the driveway to keep people, pets and cars off of it.   Lastly, let the driveway cure for at least 24 hours before walking on it and one week before driving on it.  Seal coating your driveway will extend it’s life and it’s beauty.