Sage-Tips

When should asphalt sealer be applied?

Typically you want to wait a minimum of 6 months before applying sealcoat to fresh asphalt to give it time to fully cure, compact and settle. You might be able to get by with less time in some cases, but 6 months is usually the absolute minimum as a rule of thumb.

Do I need to pressure wash driveway before sealing?

Cleaning the dirt and grime off your driveway before sealcoating is a critical step in maintenance. Wash away dirt by power washing your entire driveway. Make sure you pay special attention to any cracks where dirt, sticks, and leaves easily get caught.

Can you seal coat a damp driveway?

You can’t sealcoat wet pavement, which is why it’s important to check your local weather forecast. Our asphalt driveway contractors are busiest in the summer because there are long periods of time where we don’t get rain. Dry weather conditions are perfect for sealcoating.

How long should driveway dry before sealing?

You’ll need at least two days of dry weather to seal your asphalt driveway. Temperatures must be above 50 degrees F during application and throughout the night. And, it’s best to avoid scorching-hot sunny days (the sealer may dry too fast).

Is asphalt sealing worth it?

Sealcoating won’t cure existing issues, like cracks, but it will help prevent such damage from forming in the first place. Aside from keeping out damaging elements, properly applying a sealcoat is essential to extend the life of asphalt paving. Why sealcoating is recommended to maintain your asphalt pavement.

Which driveway sealer is best?

Coal tar asphalt driveway sealer is considered the standard for asphalt — in some places, that is. The preferred choice for both asphalt driveways and streets for many years, coal tar sealer is made from sticky coal tar. It can last for up to five years on a driveway.

What type of driveway sealer is best?

Is it better to brush or squeegee driveway sealer?

Sprayers provide better control of the amount of sealant used, making the application process more precise. Squeegee machines take a little longer than sprayers, but hand squeegees are the most timeconsuming. On many jobs, it will take twice as long for workers to apply sealcoating by hand.

What is the best temperature to seal a driveway?

What’s the best temperature to seal a driveway? The ideal conditions for application are during the day when pavement and ambient temperatures are at least 50°F and rising, and no rain is forecasted for 24 hours. If these recommendations are not followed, the procedure will not yield desired results.

Should I seal my driveway myself?

Many homeowners wonder whether or not it’s worth it to get a seal coat (also called sealcoating, sealcoat or sealant) for their asphalt and concrete driveways. However, experts agree that proper application of seal coat is a fundamental component of driveway surface protection.

What happens if you don’t seal coat driveway?

The surface starts to deteriorate as soon as asphalt is laid. Carter said it doesn’t matter whether the smooth, black surface wears off the asphalt driveway. “If you don’t coat the driveway and just let it go, what you’ll find is 90 percent of the surface is just sand and gravel and aggregate,” he said.

When should I seal my asphalt driveway?

We highly recommend you wait to apply driveway sealer until after the temperature consistently reaches 50 degrees. Otherwise, the sealer won’t adhere to the surface of your asphalt driveway and will quickly wear off.

The correct temperatures range between 50 degrees and 90 degrees. Most professional driveway sealers recommend sealing the driveway when the temperature is about 65 degrees. Temperatures above 95 degrees are not recommended as it forces the driveway to dry fast and have an uneven surface.

How do you seal an asphalt driveway with oil stains?

If your driveway has visible oil stains, pick up a bottle of oil spot primer. You’ll need at least two days of dry weather to seal your asphalt driveway. Temperatures must be above 50 degrees F during application and throughout the night. And, it’s best to avoid scorching-hot sunny days (the sealer may dry too fast).

How do I prepare my asphalt driveway for winter?

Spend extra time at cracks and dark spots. Another option is to thoroughly power wash the driveway. This is less than ideal as you will have to wait a day or more for the driveway to fully dry. Failure to do so will trap moisture in the asphalt after sealing and damage the asphalt when it freezes.