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.
Not sealing it will only make it more susceptible to damage from the elements and other things. Sealcoating can effectively protect your driveway from rain, hail, snow or oil. It will give you a water-resistant surface, protecting you from the elements. Your driveway is also protected from the sun's damaging UV rays.
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.
When sealcoating is used as part of a preventative maintenance program, it can extend the life of your driveway by up to 20 years on average.
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.
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.
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.
Rain and Sealcoating
Sealcoat material will not properly adhere to the asphalt pavement if it is wet. Asphalt must be 100% dry in order to apply the material. Sealcoating application and drying do not pair well with rainy or even misty conditions. Rain prevents the coating from drying.
Upon completion, we recommend to keep vehicles off for a minimum of 48 – 72 hours. You may walk on the driveway after 24 hours.
There Are Cracks or Holes in the Surface
Another sign that your driveway needs to be sealed is cracks or holes in the surface. These can be caused by several things, such as tree roots, weather damage, or normal wear and tear. If you notice any cracks or holes, it's important to have them repaired as soon as possible.
Sealcoating not only extends the life of your asphalt pavement, but it's also an effective way to save money. Unprotected asphalt leads to cracks and potholes which will cost you more in repairs.
Seal coating allows for a smoother, crack-free driveway, and because smoother pavements extend pavement life by as much as 10% to 25%, you won't have to worry about replacement or repairs for a much longer period of time.
Driveways with many cracks take longer; the more cracks and the deeper the cracks, the longer it takes to cure. 4. Thicker coats slow dry time. We always recommend two thin coats for best results.
The Best Weather for Sealcoating is Warm and Dry
If there is any rain in the forecast for the day of the scheduled sealcoating, it should be delayed until the forecast shows no rain. The best weather for sealcoating is relatively arid conditions combined with a temperature between 50 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
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 Your Parking Lot or Driveway
Asphalt sealer takes at least seven days to fully cure. There is no need to hurry if it is not necessary. If possible, do not use your freshly coated driveway for a full 72 hours (about 3 days) just to be on the safe side.
Under ideal conditions, typically we recommend waiting 4-12 hours, and until the first coat is fully dry and cured all the way through the film. In optimal conditions, if the driveway is sealed early in the morning and the entire driveway is in full sun and is fully dry, you may apply a second coat the same day.
The more likely cause is that the concrete is colder than the air, causing condensation, making it appear wet, Vrydaghs said.
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.