Why Does A Driveway Need To Be Sealed?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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By regularly applying a quality driveway sealer to your concrete you can prevent water, sunlight, and air from permeating your asphalt and prevent these problems. As an added benefit, driveway sealing

also repels oil spills and leaks

and makes it much easier for you to sweep and clean your driveway surface.

Do you really need 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

.”

What is the point of driveway sealing?

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.

When should driveways be sealed?

It is recommended to seal your driveway every two to five years. Though, if you can see the color of the stones that make up the asphalt, it is time to seal it again. Ideally the best time of year for driveway sealcoating is

between May and October

.

What happens if you don’t seal coat driveway?

So long as the asphalt cement used at the blacktop plant was high quality, your driveway will not fall apart in a few years without sealer. If it does

start to crack and crumble

, it’s not a lack of sealer; it’s an indication that the gravel base was not installed correctly.

Can you seal your driveway too much?

We’ve seen some homeowners who use too much caution when it comes to driveway sealcoating, and have their driveways

coated once a year

. Overusing sealer can cause peeling, flaking or cracking if it builds up.

How long should you wait to drive on a sealed driveway?

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.

Is sealing your concrete driveway worth it?

Sealing your driveway is an

excellent way to prolong its lifespan

, but after years of use, even concrete can deteriorate. Hard Rock Concrete Coatings specializes in repairing concrete mishaps, dings, and damages.

Is sealcoating expensive?

The cost of sealcoating

If you’re going to get professional sealcoaters to do the job, the typical sealcoating cost would range

between $0.08 to $0.30 a square foot

. This means that, on average, you can expect to pay between $48 to $180 to sealcoat a 600 square foot parking space.

Does sealcoating fill cracks?

Sealcoating is

not designed to be an

asphalt crack filler, it is made for sealing the surface and protecting it from the elements such as UV light, salts and oils. It is not flexible enough to fill a crack without re-cracking and it does not have adhesion quality’s that Asphalt Crack Filler has.

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.

Is sealcoating profitable?

In fact, there is still plenty of time in the sealcoating season to not only start a business, but

also become profitable

. That’s because asphalt sealcoating exists at the perfect intersection for starting a business: a high-demand service with high profit margins that requires low initial investment.

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.

Which is better oil or water based driveway sealer?

Oil-based sealers also contain volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which are very damaging to the environment. … Even if they are allowed where you live, choosing a

water-based sealer

is a more environmentally-friendly option that allows you to resurface your driveway without releasing damaging pollutants.

Can you mix driveway sealer with water?

Not adding any water at all can cause the sealer to be too thick, causing shrinkage cracking and also leading to failure. The

water and sealer should be fully mixed before application

. Most manufacturers recommend two applications of sealer rather than one heavy coat.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.