No. Asphalt sealer is a preventive measure. It's not designed to fill cracks and potholes.
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.
Asphalt sealcoating is not meant as an effective treatment for cracks any larger than 1/8th inch wide. Parking lot and driveway cracks any wider than 1/8th inch should be treated separately with a special material called crack sealant before sealcoating can be applied.
No, it does not. You will see crack filler through sealcoat, as the crack filler is designed to expand and contract with temperature changes. Pavement takes on a dark, vibrant color after sealcoating, but you will still see repaired crack areas through the sealcoat.
To fill hairline concrete cracks, you can usually use a patching compound to make the repair. First apply a concrete bonding adhesive or primer/additive to create the best bond possible between the old surface and the patching material. Use an old or inexpensive paintbrush to work the liquid into the surface.
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.
All structural cracks should always be filled along with sealcoating. Large cracks can be filled until they reach approx. 1” wide. Then, we recommend saw cutting and replacing the severe crack.
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.
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.
Latex-ite Pli-Stix Asphalt Crack Filler
For deep asphalt cracks up to 1 inch wide, Latex-ite's Pli-Stix filler rope offers a permanent seal that's flexible and waterproof. This Pli-Stix consists of a ½-inch-wide asphalt rope that is pressed into cracks, then melted to create a self-leveling and permanent seal.
Apply Sealcoat to the Area
Cracks indicate a weak area in the asphalt. One of the best ways to protect your pavement around the crack is to apply a fresh layer of sealcoat. Sealcoat is the sealant used on top of asphalt to prevent erosion and discourage cracks.
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.
Very fine surface cracks, or crazing, occur when a concrete driveway dries too fast. They usually appear soon after it's poured. These fine surface cracks are often cosmetic and not signs of serious structural damage.
Flex Seal Liquid is a helpful resource for fixing driveway damage. The product can be easily poured into cracks and crevices for repair. It's important to note that we do not recommend sealing large areas that receive a lot of foot traffic because the liquid can become slippery when wet.
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.
Crack filling is the placement of asphalt emulsion into non-working cracks to reduce water infiltration and to reinforce the adjacent pavement.
Concrete epoxy is a popular product used for filling in cracks on exterior walls that are made from concrete. Depending on the size of the crack, the concrete epoxy will either need to be injected into the crack or worked in with a brush.
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.
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.
Once the asphalt cracks, water and/or car fluids can seep in and create pools of water underneath the surface. This will lead to more cracking and further damage. Sealcoating will protect against fading, and can even improve the appearance of your asphalt.
Fill any cracks that have appeared and have a professional team come and sealcoat your asphalt. This will help protect it during its adolescence and elongate this period as long as possible. Sealcoating is a standard part of maintenance and should be performed every 3-5 years.
According to HomeAdvisor, a driveway repair professional will charge as little as $300 to fix minor concrete driveway cracks, but most homeowners can do the job on their own with a rubber or synthetic crack filler. This costs about $0.10 to $0.15 per linear foot—but watch out if cracks are larger than 1/8 of an inch.
Hairline cracks of less than one millimetre in width or slight cracks of between one and five millimetres are generally not a cause for concern. If you begin to notice these, they can generally be filled and painted over as they're a crack in the plaster but not in the wall itself.