What Temperature Does It Have To Be To Seal Your Driveway?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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For a proper curing, seal coat needs a nightly temperature

of at least 50 degrees

. However, falling leaves also present a problem as they will become embedded in the seal coat if they fall during its drying process, weakening it as well.

Can you seal coat a driveway in cold weather?

As pavement temperatures fall below 50°F,

it becomes more difficult for the sealer to

adhere to the pavement. The binder in sealer applied in colder temperatures also becomes harder and more difficult to fuse and stick together to form an effective film.

Can you sealcoat in the winter?


Temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit are too cold to apply sealcoat

. Furthermore, if the low temperatures fall to freezing or below while the coating dries, water in the sealcoat material could freeze, leading to the finished product separating and peeling.

What temperature is too cold for blacktop?

During initial application, the asphalt should still be at least 220 to 290-degrees Fahrenheit. If the asphalt dips below

approximately 185-degrees Fahrenheit

before compaction is complete, its consistency stiffens up too much to finish the job properly.

What time of year should you seal your asphalt driveway?

Ideally the best time of year for driveway sealcoating is

between May and October

. However, you will want to check the forecast to be as sure it will not rain while the driveway is setting. It is important to not touch or drive on the seal coated driveway for at least 12 hours.

Do driveway sealers need two coats?

Most driveway sealer manufacturers recommend

two coats

with a minimum drying time of eight hours between coats, so this driveway sealing project will fill an entire weekend.

What is the lowest temperature you can seal a driveway?

Sealcoating anytime after October 31st, the nighttime temperatures fall below 40 degrees. This could cause problems with a water based asphalt sealer. Pavement sealers are best applied when the temperatures are a MINIMUM of

55 degrees

and RISING and do not fall below 50 degrees for 48 hours after application.

Is it too late to seal my driveway?

When is the best time of day to sealcoat an asphalt driveway or parking lot? As a general rule,

there’s no set time of day that is best to sealcoat

. You can ideally apply a sealcoat sealer at any time of the day and be just fine, as long as the pavement temperature isn’t going to dip much past 40o F at night.

Is it worth it to seal driveway?

Kindler said sealing helps prolong the life of a driveway and should be a regular part of home maintenance. “If you seal-coat a driveway or a highway, the surface will last longer,” said Kindler, who teaches a pavement class at Ohio State University. “I would recommend doing

it about every three years on a driveway

.”

How do I prep my driveway for sealing?

  1. Prep the Area. Remove the grass overhanging the edges of the surface, and then sweep the surface clean with a push broom. …
  2. Fill in Cracks and Depressions. …
  3. Spray Down the Asphalt. …
  4. Mix the Sealant. …
  5. Apply the Sealant. …
  6. Allow Sealant to Dry.

What is the lowest temperature you can lay asphalt?

What is the minimum temperature for laying asphalt? To keep asphalt soft and allow for proper rolling and compacting, outside and ground temperatures should be

at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit

.

Can you blacktop in cold weather?

In general, it is best to hold off on paving projects until we have gotten through the winter. However, we can pave in the winter as long as weather conditions are dry and the ground isn’t frozen. In other words, cold weather asphalt paving can be

done during mild winters

or in late fall.

What is the best temperature to blacktop a driveway?

The best time of year to pave asphalt is during the spring and summer months because the best temperature for hot paving is generally

70 degrees Fahrenheit or higher

. It’s possible to lay asphalt at temperatures as low as 50 degrees, but doing so isn’t likely to bring about the best results possible.

How long should I let my driveway after it is sealed?

You can typically drive on sealed asphalt after 24 hours. However, we recommend giving it

48 hours

, if possible, to be sure. If the weather is humid, cloudy, or cool, we recommend to give your asphalt an additional day to dry.

How often should blacktop be sealed?

The process of curing enables oils to escape and prepares the pavement for the sealer. Once cured, a sealcoat should be applied promptly to protect asphalt from sunlight, extreme temperatures and other preliminary threats. After the initial seal, asphalt should be resealed

once every three to five years

.

How much does it cost to sealcoat a driveway?

In the United States, the average cost for materials and labor to sealcoat asphalt is

$0.17 to $0.24 per square foot

. For a basic 480 square foot driveway, you can expect to pay $80 to $115 for sealing. For a larger 1,000 square foot driveway, contractors typically charge between $170 and $240 for sealcoating.

Leah Jackson
Author
Leah Jackson
Leah is a relationship coach with over 10 years of experience working with couples and individuals to improve their relationships. She holds a degree in psychology and has trained with leading relationship experts such as John Gottman and Esther Perel. Leah is passionate about helping people build strong, healthy relationships and providing practical advice to overcome common relationship challenges.