8/7/2017 52 Comments Asphalt Driveway MaintenanceYou should seal asphalt driveway spaces periodically for best results. There are many differing opinions about the frequency of the sealing. Some people say every year, while others say once every 10 years. If you are trying to determine when to seal your driveway, here are a few factors to consider.
As NeededThe first thing that you need to understand that every driveway is different. Therefore, the first place that you should go for information is your individual driveway. If it looks like it is cracking and is not sealed, then you need to seal it with a good asphalt sealer. However, you will want to make sure that you do not seal a new asphalt driveway within 6 months of initially installing it. This will give the materials in the asphalt time to set up properly before being sealed. ClimateOne big factor in determining how often to seal your asphalt is the climate in which you live. If you live in a very moderate climate that never changes, you should be able to last around three to four years. If it freezes in the winter and gets over 100 in the summer, then you should seal it every one to two years. How To Sealing a driveway isn’t a difficult task in and of itself, but without doing the necessary preparation before applying the sealer, your project can very easily go wrong, and you can find yourself with an improper seal. Putting a sealant over an asphalt driveway keeps out moisture, keeps large cracks from forming, and is a general form of preventative maintenance. If done well, a proper sealcoating can penetrate pre-existing cracks to seal them before they expand and can even improve the overall appearance of asphalt to a point where it looks like new. Step 1 – Inspect the SurfaceStart by first taking a good look at your driveway surface. The surface can be marred by everything from bird poop and oil stains to cracks and potholes. You’re going to want get these out before putting on any sealant. These can cause the sealant to be less effective. Step 2 – Address the StainsSweep away any large, dry debris using a broom or a hose. Lingering stains from oil and other tough substances will require a little more elbow grease. Warm water, soap, and a scrub brush should be enough to wash most driveways. You may need to apply a de-greaser for some oil stains Step 3 – Repair CracksThe next obstacle is cracks. You must fill in cracks prior to sealing and also allow enough time for the filler to dry. Smaller cracks can usually be taken care of with a liquid sealer. However, larger cracks will need asphalt repair caulk and may need more than one application. During the drying process, the caulk loses moisture and may shrink. A second application will make it flush with the driveway surface. Step 4 – Fill PotholesPotholes are much larger and severe than any cracks, and no amount of asphalt caulk is going to take be enough to fix a pothole. Instead, you’re going to need to use cold patch or quick concrete patching product for actual asphalt repair. It’s basically ready-to-use asphalt and simply needs to be shoveled and compacted into the hole. As easy as the cold patch makes the process, you still may need to do it more than once, as settling can cause the surface to shift so it is no longer flush with the rest of the driveway. Step 5 – Choose the Right Window to ApplyYou’re going to need two or three days of good sunny weather both prior to application and during your sealcoating. It takes a while for the seal to properly dry, and any amount of rain will erode at the sealant and eventually wash it away. Step 6 – Choose a Sealant VarietyThere are four types of sealant available: tar emulsion, asphalt-emulsion, latex-acrylic, and rubber sealant with titanium fortification. Tar EmulsionTar emulsion is cheap, but it’s hard to apply and needs constant stirring to prevent solidification when not being applied. Asphalt-emulsionThis option is a little more expensive, but it is the most popular option for homeowners. Asphalt-emulsion lasts longer than tar and provides better protection. Latex-acrylicLatex-acrylic provides even better protection and dries faster, but it’s also expensive, usually more than double that of an asphalt-emulsion sealer. Rubber with TitaniumThe absolute best option for sealcoating asphalt is a liquid rubber sealer with titanium fortification. This kind of sealer costs about $500 for 5 gallons, compared with $65 for 2 gallons of the latex-acrylic. Step 7 – Apply the SealRegardless of which sealer you choose, they are all generally applied the same way. You’ll need a specialized tool that has a long handle and a squeegee and one end and a brush at the other. Pour about a foot-long strip of sealant onto the pavement, use the squeegee to spread it, and the brush to make it even. Start at one end and work your way to the other. Some sealer types can be applied with a paint roller if you prefer that way. Let it set for about 12 hours to dry and then apply a second layer. Keep people, pets, and vehicles off of the asphalt for at least a day so that any additional coats can dry properly.
52 Comments
7/17/2019 10:01:06 am
Thanks for explaining that we should wait six months after having an asphalt driveway installed to have it sealcoated. My husband and I want to have an asphalt driveway put in soon. Your article made me feel prepared to talk with the paving contractors about sealcoating!
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8/6/2019 03:20:34 pm
I like that you said that asphalt-emulsion protects better than tar and last longer. My parent's driveway is starting to develop cracks and they were thinking about fixing it. I'm going to let them know about asphalt benefits on fixing potholes, cracks, and ruts.
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8/8/2019 06:38:57 pm
I was really interested to learn that seal coating can penetrate pre-existing cracks. This would be nice because it would upkeep your current driveway. I'll look for a landscaping company that can help me with maintaining my current driveway so that it doesn't get worse.
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8/26/2019 12:54:34 pm
I appreciate how you said that you need to get your driveway sealed if there are any cracks in the asphalt. My sister has been telling me about a crack that has been steadily expanding in her driveway, and I think this information could be beneficial for her. I'll be sure to pass this article along to her so that she can look further into her options for professionals who will be able to help her with her driveway.
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8/28/2019 03:52:48 pm
My dad's driveway has a few cracks. I like how you mention to not seal a new asphalt driveway within 6 months of being installed. Thank you for the advice. I'll contact a professional to repair my dad's driveway.
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9/3/2019 10:20:34 am
I found it interesting when you said that putting a sealant over an asphalt driveway keeps out moisture and keeps large cracks from forming. My neighbor likes to fix his cars in his driveway and due to all the tools and oil spilled the asphalt is damaged. I will recommend him to contact a professional so they can help him get his driveway asphalt fixed.
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9/13/2019 09:12:55 am
I liked that you mentioned you should seal asphalt driveway spaces periodically as part of driveway maintenance. My father is looking for advice about how to give maintenance to our driveway since we found cracks in it. I will let him know about your recommendations to make our driveway look beautiful again.
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9/26/2019 02:23:43 pm
I didn't know potholes are more severe than cracks. My driveway hasn't been repaired in years and it's damaged my car a bit. I'll have to look into asphalt repair.
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10/24/2019 02:10:00 pm
Thanks for explaining that asphalt driveways in moderate climates only need to sealed every three or four years. My home currently has a gravel driveway, but I like the idea of hiring a paving service to put in an asphalt one within the next couple of months. Your article was helpful because now I know how to care for an asphalt driveway to extend its lifespan!
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11/1/2019 08:20:23 am
I like that you said that putting a sealant over an asphalt driveway helps you keep out moisture and large cracks for floating. My driveway is starting to develop cracks. I'm going to talk to my wife about fixing it.
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12/17/2019 08:02:18 am
It's awesome that sealcoating can penetrate pre-existing cracks to stop them from expanding. My brother has been telling me about some cracks that he found in his driveway the other day. I'll share this informaiton with him so that he can look into his options for professionals who can help him with some sealcoating.
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1/15/2020 02:28:22 pm
Ah, thank you so much for explaining how to maintain asphalt. As an anniversary gift, I'd like to pay for my parents to upgrade from their dirt driveway. I'd like to hire specialists to come in and give them a nice new asphalt driveway.
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3/5/2020 11:45:07 am
It's good to know that you can prevent large cracks and moisture in your driveway when sealing asphalt. My husband and I are wanting to get our driveway replaced in the next couple of weeks because it is sinking and has a ton of cracks and we want to get it replaced with an asphalt driveway. We'll make sure to keep these maintenance tips in mind once we find a company that can pave one for our home!
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5/26/2020 12:06:58 pm
Thank you so much for informing me that seal coating can help prevent additional damage and improve the aesthetic of the surface. Yesterday, I drove past my local church, and I noticed that the parking lot is cracked and there are weeds growing in it. I will have to talk to them about getting parking lot maintenance.
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6/5/2020 10:25:37 pm
It's great that you point out that potholes cannot be repaired by using asphalt caulk alone. My husband just noted some cracks on my neighbour's driveway when we visited last week. We should probably let them know and ask them to have it repaired soon before it worsens and becomes potholes which are harder to repair.
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6/19/2020 04:31:00 am
Asphalt driveway maintenance is really interesting thing to learn about. I have got to know a lot from your blog. Thanks for your information. One must check this solidcivilsurfaces.co.nz/ it gives us more info on this topic.
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9/8/2020 07:58:28 am
The concept is very good which give us information regarding the best asphalt driveway maintenance. It is a pleasure worth reading this article. I enjoyed reading this article and would suggest others to come In this particular blog and get all the information regarding it.If possible visit this website Earthmovingandcivil.co.nz to gain more idea or tips on the same.
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2/16/2021 02:18:51 pm
I was surprised when you explained how much recommendations can vary about how often to seal coat your driveway. My husband and I want to have our dirt driveway upgraded to asphalt this summer. I'm glad I read your article so we can ask whatever asphalt company we choose about seal coating frequency to get a specific answer.
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2/23/2021 04:38:37 am
Thank you for sharing this information about asphalt driveway maintenance. It was useful and interesting. You indeed have written it in a layman way so that anyone can understand and work accordingly. You have done a great job... Great post!!
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3/1/2021 04:13:32 am
It’s a great source of knowledge; I think it will be helpful for lot of people who are looking for asphalt driveway maintenance . Thank you very much for sharing this article, this is really helpful for me, thanks again and looking for more in future!
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4/1/2021 11:11:41 pm
I appreciated it when you shared that it is important to seal your driveway with a good asphalt sealer if it looks like it is cracking and not sealed. My uncle just mentioned the other that he has noticed that his driveway is no longer in good condition due to lack of maintenance. I will suggest to him looking for a reliable service that can offer to seal coating it with a great sealant.
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5/4/2021 06:19:08 pm
I didn't know that seal coating can also seal up cracks. I thought it was just meant to stop water from getting under the asphalt. Having the cracks filled in would make a huge difference in the long run.
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6/2/2021 01:46:53 pm
My cousin has been thinking about getting her driveway seal coated because it has been a really harsh winter. Making sure that she can get them done by a professional could allow them to be more effective, and reduce any problems. Thanks for explaining how they should do all the necessary preparations by inspecting the surface, and cleaning it afterward.
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7/15/2021 09:24:02 am
I want to make sure that my asphalt driveway lasts a long time. It makes sense that I would want to get it properly sealcoated! That seems like a good way to ensure that it doesn't break down as quickly.
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Thanks for pointing out that there is a necessary preparation for applying the sealer for the project. With that in mind, it would be best to hire a business driveway asphalt paving contractor if you plan to use that material. They will give you peace of mind that the final outcome of your driveway would be durable enough to withstand the traffic caused by cars parking on your property.
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10/23/2021 01:05:28 am
Thanks for pointing out that the necessary preparation is needed to ensure that the project of asphalt sealcoating will not go wrong. With that in mind, it would be best to hire professionals for the job to ensure that there will be no issues with the job. I will follow your advice now that I moved into a house with an asphalt driveway this year.
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12/31/2021 02:10:39 am
I would like to have my home's driveway fixed by hiring an asphalt service since it's already cracked. Thank you for sharing here as well the importance of knowing the four types of sealants first. Aside from this, you are also right that the chosen service's equipment must be checked too.
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1/26/2022 06:05:01 pm
I think you are right about how asphalt emulsion is a little more expensive but lasts longer. I need to get a paving contractor to help out with my driveway. It needs to be repaved since it has a lot of cracks.
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2/9/2022 09:51:49 am
I am grateful that this post shared that although it is possible for us to have our asphalt driveway maintained ourselves, it is recommended that we hire a professional as they will ensure that the driveway is maintained properly. The other day my neighbor shared that they are looking to have their driveway maintained. I will definitely encourage them to hire a professional who is licensed and certified.
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2/25/2022 07:52:06 pm
This is a good post, it teach me many things.Thank for your share!
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3/1/2022 11:40:55 am
Thank you for explaining that you'll need two or three days of sunny weather to properly apply the sealcoating. My husband and I have been talking about resealing our asphalt driveway. We'll be sure to check the weather before we schedule an appointment.
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6/9/2022 12:33:47 am
I liked how this post pointed out that sealing an asphalt driveway can prevent large cracks from forming. That's probably why my friend wants to put a sealant over their driveway. I should advise her to hire a contractor that specializes in asphalt sealing for a reliable result.
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7/7/2022 12:57:45 am
Thanks for pointing out that it is important for us to regularly maintain our driveway. It makes sense if we intend to extend its life. I will call a contractor to help me.
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7/14/2022 10:17:32 pm
It's interesting when you said that every driveway was built differently, you should be aware of that. One of my parent's friends told me the other day that he was looking for a service that could help with the surface of the asphalt of their driveway because of cracked parts and potholes, and he asked if I had any idea what would be the best option to consider. Thanks for helping me understand, I'll be sure to tell him that consulting a pavement surface coating service can provide more information about the process.
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11/7/2022 03:55:24 pm
It was interesting to me when you mentioned that sealing a driveway isn't a difficult task. With that in mind, I would imagine that professional asphalt sealing will ensure that nothing slips into the cracks. You would probably get more value out of your asphalt if it is sealed by a professional.
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11/9/2022 10:55:30 am
My wife and I want to pave our driveway next week, so we're looking for maintenance tips to help us learn how to keep it in good shape. That's why we'll follow your advice about sealing our asphalt driveway when it's ready with the help of a specialist, so we'll ask about this service too. Thanks for describing how sealing a driveway helps us keep it safe from large cracks.
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12/21/2022 06:02:49 pm
Thanks so much for explaining how to sealcoat an asphalt driveway. y uncle is wanting to repave his driveway because it is stained and uneven. We've been looking into calling some professional pavers to help him pave the new one in asphalt this time.
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1/3/2023 10:28:51 am
Thank you for explaining that you should make sure that it's sunny for two to three days to sealcoat it all properly. We just had our asphalt driveway paved last summer. I'll be sure to look into doing this for our driveway when the weather clears up.
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1/5/2023 11:05:21 pm
Thank you for mentioning that gaps must be filled before sealing and that the filler must have enough time to dry. My sister claimed that her asphalt driveway was deteriorating. I'll advise her to have the expert pavement contractor fill in the cracks before sealing them.
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2/15/2023 03:38:22 am
Thank you so much for sharing this information about Asphalt Driveway Maintenance. This is very nice and inspiring!! Thanks for sharing and look for more in future!! I hope you keep updating us with such great tips and information in future too. This is a great post; I will share as much as I can.
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2/15/2023 05:08:45 pm
It's interesting when you said that you should understand the design and condition of your driveway for a proper consultation with your service provider. A few nights ago, one of my parent's friends told us he was looking for an asphalt service that could help pave their driveway because of cracked parts and potholes. He asked if I had any idea what would be the best option to consider. Thanks for helping me understand. I'll tell him that consulting asphalt paving specialists can provide more information about the process.
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2/17/2023 02:44:37 am
Thank you for sharing this wonderful article. Very efficiently written information. It will be useful to anybody who utilizes it when it comes to tile intallation. I am confident that this article will be very useful for me in the future when I need to plan and renovate my own house. Keep up the good work.
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2/28/2023 02:59:22 pm
I loved how you said that sealing your driveway will get you the best results! My husband and I want to get an asphalt driveway paved for our custom home next month, so I wanted to learn more about taking care of it properly. We'll have to hire an asphalt paving company that also offers sealing services.
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3/27/2023 04:51:21 pm
Great tip about using the slightly more expensive option of asphalt-emulsion. My asphalt has a ton of cracks in it. I'll have to have them filled in.
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4/10/2023 10:47:43 pm
Very impressive post, have a good day!
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5/9/2023 08:32:58 pm
What I particularly appreciate about this blog post is its emphasis on preventative measures. It highlights the importance of proactive maintenance and regular inspections to identify and address issues before they escalate. The article provides practical recommendations on how to detect signs of damage, such as cracks, potholes, or drainage problems, allowing homeowners to take timely action and prevent further deterioration.
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5/9/2023 09:00:57 pm
I particularly appreciate the emphasis on the importance of regular inspections and early detection of issues. The article highlights key warning signs of driveway damage, such as cracks, potholes, or drainage problems, and provides guidance on how to address them promptly. This proactive approach allows homeowners to tackle problems in their early stages, preventing them from escalating into more significant and costly repairs.
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5/9/2023 09:43:59 pm
The blog post offers a wealth of information on essential maintenance tasks to undertake throughout the year. It covers topics such as cleaning, crack sealing, sealcoating, and addressing potholes. The step-by-step instructions and recommendations provided allow homeowners to follow a systematic approach in maintaining their asphalt driveways, ensuring their durability and aesthetic appeal.
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5/16/2023 03:33:31 am
One aspect that stood out to me was the emphasis on regular cleaning and debris removal. The blog post highlights the importance of keeping the surface clean from leaves, dirt, and other debris that can trap moisture and contribute to the deterioration of the asphalt. By regularly sweeping or using a blower to remove debris, individuals can prevent damage and maintain the appearance of their driveway. The blog post also addresses the importance of addressing cracks and potholes promptly. It advises individuals to fill in cracks and repair potholes as soon as they appear, as these can worsen over time and lead to more extensive damage. By taking immediate action, individuals can prevent further deterioration and ensure a smooth and safe driveway surface. Thanks for sharing this!
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