Driveway Sealcoating 101: What Homeowners Need to Know

In the never-ending quest to keep a home’s exterior looking good, the driveway is often overlooked. But like anything else, and depending how much fish cleaning is done in it, exposure to the elements, oil drippings, and overuse can leave it looking tired and less structurally sound. It’s in situations like this that driveway sealcoating is inevitable. If you have an asphalt or blacktop driveway, sealcoating it is a sound investment that will not only improve its curb appeal, but also extend its life and save you on future repair costs.

What Is Driveway Sealcoating?

What Is Driveway Sealcoating? This film serves as both a moisture barrier and a shield from UV rays, chemicals, and other potential sources of damage. The Happiest of Seals® gets into small cracks, prevents water seepage and reduces the effects of oxidation/ deterioration cause by damage from the sun.

Sealcoating is not intended to protect a driveway from being cold milled; rather, the point of a sealcoating job is to slow down the aging process of a driveway that is in relatively good condition and is unsuitable for immediate, cold mill-style demolition.

Why Sealcoating Is Important

1. Protection from the Elements

One of the asphalt driveway’s main enemies is the weather. Rain, snow and ice can find their way into those cracks and freeze, expanding and aggravating the situation. Seal coats create a water tight membrane barrier between moisture and your investment that’s critical in the Harrisburg area where the expansion/contraction due to freeze/thaw is a major cause of pavement failure.

2. Resistance to Chemicals

Driveways are frequently the play of oil, gasoline, and other chemical compounds drip from automobiles. They can degrade the asphalt binder, leaving it weaker. Sealcoating goes a long way to provide a level of protection to cleanup spills before it has a lasting impact.

3. Improved Appearance

Asphalt driveways can fade and turn muddy over time. looking appearance Sealcoating can instantly literately increase the value of your establishment by at least 80% providing your home with a clean, beautiful, well-maintained appearance.

4. Cost Savings Over Time

With sealcoating, your driveway will last that much longer. By keeping cracks and other damage at bay, home owners may be able to avoid more expensive repairs, or a complete resurfacing at some point.

When and How Often Should You Sealcoat?

For new driveways, it is advisable to keep the applications at least 6 to 12 months after applying the first coat of sealant. This curing the asphalt, so it hardens correctly. After that it should be sealed coat roughly every two to three years, or depending on traffic volume, exposure to weather and driveway condition.

You don’t want to use the technique too much. Overuse of the product can create a surface build up and work less flexible and may eventually crack. The truth is, a complete assessment before every sealing is essential to identify whether sealcoating is indeed required and/or useful.

DIY vs. Professional Sealcoating

There are homeowners who prefer to attempt sealcoating as a do-it-yourself project. Although this can be achieved to some extent with the proper supplies and products, applicator results tend to last longer and look a little more even. And Professionals also have the best tools and know how to prep surfaces and apply efficiently.

If you choose to DIY, be sure to clean up the driveway well, fill any visible cracks with an appropriate filler, and read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Selecting optimal weather conditions, preferably dry weather and temperatures above 50°F, is also important for proper curing.

Conclusion

Sealcoating an asphalt driveway is a very cost-effective maintenance solution to help protect and preserve your pavement for many years to come. Benefits include weather protection, chemical resistance, and improvements to aesthetics and cost savings. Whether by professional or do-it-yourself application, properly applied sealcoat products should last for many years, making it an important part of any homeowner’s pavement maintenance plan.

Driveway Sealcoating: the driveway can make the first impression, sealcoating it every few year is a way of preserving safety and appeal for years to come.