On average, it is recommended to sealcoat your driveway every 2-3 years. The major factors that affect how the sealer wears is traffic flow, UV ray exposure, water flow and settlement, salt, snow plows, and other winter weather conditions.
For it to be successful though, you need to apply the first coat of sealant within 12-18 months after asphalt installation, and then again every 2-3 years. Any more frequent than this and your driveway may begin chipping or flaking, but any longer than this and your driveway could deteriorate.
The Drawbacks of Seal Coating
One is that it can be messy and difficult to apply evenly. It's also important to note that sealants will not repair significant damage to your driveway; they will only protect it from further damage. If your driveway is damaged, you'll need to have it repaired before sealcoating it.
Ideally, you should sealcoat once every 2 or 3 years. Make it once every 2 years if your driveway gets a lot of traffic and is constantly exposed to chemicals, snow or oils. Video: How often to seal a driveway? You need to also seal your driveway after every repair.
“Surfaces like asphalt can start to break apart because driving continuously will wear out its structure over time,” Jordan says. Sealing a driveway can mitigate these effects. The benefits include: Appearance: It's satisfying to return to a home that looks tidy and attractive.
He added that sealing a driveway could yield unwanted consequences: Oil from the bitumen (the black glue that holds the asphalt together) will be tracked into the home, or the sealant could wear away unevenly, making the surface look as if it's peeling.
Using a squeegee is more hands-on, and the workers will know exactly what spots they've hit and what they've missed. They will be able to apply a thicker layer of sealer as well. Ultimately, spraying is better for large areas when time is short, and squeegee is better for smaller lots and a thicker application.
Sealcoating is not designed to be an asphalt crack filler, it is made for sealing the surface and protecting it from the elements such as UV light, salts and oils. It is not flexible enough to fill a crack without re-cracking and it does not have adhesion quality's that Asphalt Crack Filler has.
You can apply sealer at any time of day as long as the pavement temperature does not fall past 40 degrees at night. You can even apply the sealcoat during the nighttime. Many people choose to start their sealcoat project around 10 AM as the sun's temperatures begin to rise, and the humidity is not too oppressive.
If the surface of your driveway feels rough or pitted, it likely will need to be sealed soon. This can happen over time as the sealant wears down and the asphalt becomes exposed. A new coat of sealant will smooth out the surface and make it look new again. A smoother surface is also safe for your vehicle to drive on.
Jetcoat 10-year
10 years, however, is a long, long time and it's how long you'll have in between coats if you get Jetcoat's 10-year sealant. This long-last sealant is designed to last, with a patented formula that'll cover your driveway for 10 years.
Rain and Sealcoating
Sealcoating application and drying do not pair well with rainy or even misty conditions. Rain prevents the coating from drying. Depending on how heavily the rain falls, it could also wash away the sealcoating from the surface before it has had enough time to dry.
We recommend cleaning the surface first using a driveway cleaner, which also serves to cool off the surface. Make sure there is no puddled water on the driveway before sealing.
Industry standards recommend that you wait one year or go through one winter before you seal coat a new driveway. How often should I seal coat my driveway? Industry standards recommend every two years; allowing the sealer to wear away before you reseal the driveway.
Rain can wash away all of the hard work that you put into your driveway. The sealer will be washed away by the rain if you don't wait long enough for it to dry.
If you're sealing an asphalt driveway, use a latex-based sealer. Avoid oil-based sealers because they will likely crack over time. Siloxane and acrylic sealants work well with concrete driveways. It's best to avoid high-gloss, which could make the driveway surface slippery.
Sealcoating a driveway without thoroughly cleaning it first would be like painting a dirty wall on your house. It might look fine on the surface, but underneath, bad things are happening. Applying a coating on top of agents that are harmful to your driveway means they are sealed in and continue doing their damage.
Make sure there's no forecast for rain for at least three days. You want the driveway to remain dry for at least one day before and one day after applying each layer of sealant. Opt for late spring, summer, or early fall to do this project.
Sealcoating will protect against fading, and can even improve the appearance of your asphalt. It will restore the lustrous appearance of the asphalt, even if some natural fading has occurred. It will also fill all of minor surface flaws, giving the pavement a smooth and even appearance.
Surface Cracks
They are almost always caused by sealer being applied too thick. Surface cracks will always still be visible after sealcoating.
Filling Cracks
As we noted above, filling in cracks costs between $1 and $3 per linear foot. However, a professional will charge a minimum service fee to diagnose and repair asphalt driveways. And so, you'll pay an average of $100 to $400 for crack repair on your whole driveway, depending on the severity.
If the sealer is drying shiny and glossy, that's a very bad sign. Good quality asphalt sealer should dry a flat, black matte. Shiny is slippery and will not endure. To learn more about quality asphalt sealer click here.
Using acrylic for seal coating asphalt is an expensive choice. In fact, it is the most expensive choice. Despite the cost, acrylic sealer has a number of benefits. It is durable, UV resistant, weather resistant and classified as environmentally friendly.
Oil-based sealers have long been favored for their numerous advantages, particularly their exceptional durability. These sealers can effectively safeguard your driveway for up to four years, depending on the specific product and prevailing environmental conditions.