It's not designed to fill cracks and potholes. As the name suggests, its purpose is to seal the surface of your asphalt pavement. Sealcoating protects asphalt from UV rays, precipitation, and automobile fluids. But it only reaches its full potential when we fill cracks and potholes first.
You'll get the best results if you take the time to repair cracks in the surface of the driveway before applying a final coat of sealant. For cracks less than 1/2 inch, use a bottle of crack filler.
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.
Driveway Crack Filling
In fact, all cracks need to be repaired before sealcoating, not just the large and obvious ones. Sealing an unfilled crack simply means that the crack will continue to grow underneath the applied sealant. So Seal King does the job right for each and every job.
Filling Cracks in Asphalt
Clear away any loose debris from the crack. Remove any vegetation if there are weeds growing up or nearby tree roots etc. Fill the broken space with a cold asphalt patching filler, overfilling it about an inch or two. Then take a tamp and compact the material in tightly.
Crack sealing is a more costly procedure for the pavement owner but provides substantial value due to its long life expectancy. While crack filling may only last one or two seasons depending on the cracks activity, crack sealing can last up to 8 years or more and is considered a permanent treatment.
Asphalt crack sealing is an important step to take for the maintenance of your asphalt surface, because it helps to prevent larger maintenance projects down the road. Even the smallest cracks can easily turn into larger cracks, craters, and dangerous potholes.
Crack filling is not a structural repair, but it can extend the life of your pavement by sealing the cracks and preventing water from entering. Crack filling costs way less than crack sealing, making it the more affordable option. However, it is not as long-lasting as crack sealing.
We recommend that you have your asphalt driveway resealed every 2-3 years at maximum. Waiting any longer could result in faster deterioration of your pavement. And doing it too often (i.e. annually) could result in chipping and flaking.
Not sealing your driveway leads to bitumen loss which leads to water penetrating down to the base causing it to fail which in turn causes potholes and cracks. Once the cracking and pothole cycle begins it's very difficult or impossible to stop.
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.
In hot temperatures, the pavement expands and closes the cracks. This is why spring and fall are considered the optimal time for crack repair. In the cold temperatures of winter, pavement contracts and cracks open to their widest. In the hot summer season, the pavement expands and closes the cracks.
The Drawbacks of Seal Coating
There are some drawbacks to sealcoating, however. 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.
While we still recommend those with cracks developing try to get their asphalt seal coated before it gets too cold, spring is really the best time for seal coating. It means your driveways and parking lots look great for the entire year, and warm spring weather is the perfect temperature for a well-set coat.
How many coats of sealer should be applied? Low Traffic such as a typical home driveway, 1 coat is sufficient. Moderate Traffic on a parking lot, 2 coats with a third coat on the entrance and exits. Heavy Traffic 2 coats with a third coat on all travel lanes and roadways.
However, a plaster filler like Polyfilla or a powder filler are probably the best options for filling plaster cracks, as alternatives such as caulk are best used for other purposes, like sealing gaps around pipes or tiles.
Benefits of Crack Sealing
The material is also incredibly durable and will move and expand with the pavement, so you won't have to worry about the cracks reforming or water getting into your pavement. Road crews who are looking to improve the lifespan of roads and bridges will often asphalt sealing.
Crack seals/fills can last 6-8 years, and are commonly employed before chip seals. NDSU has also suggested that the optimal season to place crack seal is the spring, as ambient temperatures are moderate or cool but thermal cracks are still maximized from the winter.
Let the Area Cure Properly
Now that the crack filler is in, let it cure for 24 to 48 hours before driving over it. If you have any potholes, now is the time to repair those, too. It's a lot easier to fill them now than it used to be.
The older your asphalt is, the more likely it is to develop cracks. As it gets further along, the material begins to degrade and loses its natural ability to withstand your surface's daily pressures. So when that significant rainfall or that freeze and thaw cycle comes, older driveways are more likely to suffer damage.