Should i seal my asphalt

In this plan will talk you through: How temperature plays an impact on your pavement surface. Why sealcoating is recommended to maintain your asphalt pavement.

Tips and tricks of prolonging the life of your asphalt pavement. That Benefit You! Sealcoating protects and prolongs the life expectancy of asphalt pavement by filling surface damage and providing a protective layer to keep out damaging UV rays, vehicle fluids, and water. The low cost of regular sealcoating can save you money in the long run. A properly maintained and sealed asphalt surface has an extended lifetime and reduces long-term repair costs.

With exposure to the elements, asphalt pavement over time becomes faded in appearance. Sealcoating as part of your preventive maintenance 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. When neglected, it can also damage your driveway's foundation, which will cost you even more in replacements.

By sealcoating every two or three years, your asphalt is protected. There will be no need for costly repairs. However, it's also essential that you use a quality sealer when sealcoating.

Go with asphalt sealers containing coal tar or sealers with airport grade quality. Visit Asphalt Kingdom's Shop if you need help with either equipment or supplies for your sealcoating. Keep in mind though that sealing isn't the solution for cracks or potholes. It's not meant for repair but for prevention.

What sealcoating doesn't do is fix pavement defects or even restore the flexibility to your pavement. When your pavement is beyond repair, sealcoating may be a waste of money. When your asphalt is brittled or cracked, crack filling would be the best solution. It's advisable to sealcoat only after repairing your asphalt. You cannot sealcoat on fresh asphalt either. You need to wait when the asphalt is fully cured or between 3 to 6 months.

Asphalt sealcoating is every two to three years depending on how much traffic your driveway gets or how constantly it is being exposed to the elements such as UV rays, snow and other chemicals.

As part of your maintenance, periodically check your asphalt for cracks or depressions and ensure that you repair them as soon as possible. Do not wait for small cracks to turn into problematic potholes that require expensive repairs. It's important to note that your asphalt has to be in good condition before sealcoating it. Repairs should be done first.

When crack filling, do ensure that you prepare your pavement by getting rid of all the debris and dirt. It has to have a clean surface before applying the crack filler. Otherwise, it will not work. A variety of sealcoating equipment is available in our store. What to acquire depends on what your needs are. Are you a DIY person planning to sealcoat your driveway or are you sealcoating for business? A homeowner may only need to purchase simple tools while property managers need equipment that saves time and money.

First, let's take a look at the preparation items that you need when sealcoating your asphalt surface. To clean the area, all you need is simply a broom and a hose. However, it will be entirely different if you are offering sealcoating as a service. Using gas blowers definitely will save you time and money. When applying the sealer, a squeegee or a brush would suffice. Most homeowners or DIY people use either of the two to minimize cost. Investing in more expensive equipment may not always be practical especially if you are trying to save money.

For property managers, using a squeegee just won't cut it — it will take a great deal of time to finish sealcoating. Having a spray system would be the best solution. You can save more time - and this also means you can get more work done. Translation: more money in your pocket. You can also get accessories to keep people away from your blacktop.

Cost ranges may vary by contractor and region. Resurfacing is when you replace the top layer of asphalt with a fresh layer. Resurfacing helps extend the life of your driveway for another eight to 15 years. Knowing when to resurface your asphalt driveway depends on a few factors. Resurface your asphalt driveway if:. Keep in mind that repairs are temporary. Eventually, water seeps between the old and new material.

When this happens, cracks form again. Concrete once it has aged becomes absorbent, and a penetrating sealer gets sucked into the surface to create a barrier that keeps water out. Blocking water reduces damage from salt and from the winter freeze-and-thaw cycle.

On a rougher surface you might get as little as square feet of coverage. Consult the container for application instructions, but in most cases, concrete sealer is applied with a sprayer. Wear gloves and a mask to prevent excessive inhalation of the product. Apply the sealer with a sweeping motion with each pass across the driveway overlapping the sealer that's already in place, Kirk said.

It's best to finish the whole driveway in one session because if you allow an area to dry, the portion of sealer overlapping the dry area may not adhere well.

If an asphalt driveway has no large cracks or potholes, the resealing job is easy but messy. Repairing large cracks and potholes, however, can be hard work. Check your local home improvement store in the building materials section. To fill a small crack, start by using your hand garden tools to remove any plant matter and dirt from the crack.

A wire brush works well to clean down to bare asphalt. Larger cracks and potholes must be filled with cold patch, a form of asphalt that comes in a bag, can or bucket.