Why sealcoat?
Your driveway is one of the first things people see when visiting your home. Professional sealcoating is an easy and cost-effective method to add immediate curb appeal and extend the life of your driveway.
Asphalt is a porous material, susceptible to oxidation from the sun and damage from chemicals such as gasoline, diesel fuel, oil, and heavy traffic. The process of sealcoating applies an asphalt emulsion to help protect it from these damaging elements. Seal coating not only makes your pavement look new again, it also protects from these oxidation and petroleum spills. We recommend seal coating to be done every 2 years depending on weather conditions and traffic.
What are the benefits of sealcoating?
- Seal coating has distinct preventive maintenance benefits:
- Extends the life of your driveway by preventing the asphalt from hardening and crumbling
- Creates an attractive, uniform coat over the asphalt driveway
- Protects the driveway from salts, chemicals, and moisture from entering your asphalt
- Provides an affordable and cost-effective alternative to repaving
How often should you sealcoat?
The seal coating process should be first applied one year after the initial asphalt has been placed to allow proper cure and wear of the surface. After this, it’s recommended that you have driveway seal coated every two years for normal use, or every year if the pavement experiences heavy traffic.
What is the best temperature to sealcoat a driveway?
Sealcoating should be done at temperatures starting at 10 degrees Celsius and rising. When done in colder temperatures than this, the sealcoat may not adhere to the asphalt properly.
Is there anything you need to do to prepare your driveway beforehand?
Nothing at all. Driveway Kings will thoroughly pre-clean your driveway prior to sealcoating. The only thing we ask is to have any vehicles or other large objects be removed from the driveway before we arrive. Excessive pre-cleaning or weeding may incur additional charges.
What pre-cleaning will Driveway Kings do before sealcoating?
We come prepared to take care of all the prep work for you. Our team have a commercial grade line trimmer they will use to trim back the edges of the driveway. We are also equipped with wire brushes to clear all the dirt and debris from the cracks and other areas on the driveway. Finally we have blowers that we use to insure nothing is left on the driveway before we begin to seal. Oil spots are pre-treated prior to sealing.
Do you need to be home when Driveway Kings seal your driveway?
“We welcome you,” if not, we can still go ahead and clean/seal your driveway. Then make arrangement with you later for payment.
How long do you need to stay off your driveway after sealcoating?
During the summer months of May through August we recommend staying off the driveway for at least 48 hours. After September 1st allow 72 hours or more depending on the temperature. Very shady areas, cooler temperatures below 80° F and higher humidity above 50% can add up to 12 hours to the full cure time. You may walk on your driveway within 6 hours. Please keep cars off the sealer for at least 48 hours.
What happens if it rain on the day of your appointment?
Sealcoating must be applied to a dry driveway. Please ensure your sprinkler system is turned off for at least 48 hours before the sealing. If it rains before your appointment, we will contact you to reschedule for the next available sealing date. If it rains immediately after your driveway has been sealed, there is no impact to the sealing quality.
Does it matter which type of sealant is used on your driveway?
It ABSOLUTELY matters. There are 2 different types of sealants on the market – water-based sealant and oil-based sealant. Beware of the water-based sealant. Remember asphalt is oil. Oil and water do not mix. Water-based products (most commonly found at the local hardware store) simply sit on top of the asphalt. Over time, the water in these products evaporates, creating a cracked look which will damage the asphalt. Liquid asphalt is an oil-based product that is applied by high pressure spray and penetrates into the asphalt, creating a thorough seal.
What is crack sealing?
Crack seal is a hot, rubberized petroleum pavement crack and joint sealant. The sealant forms a long lasting, resilient seal which is flexible and expandable in varying pavement temperatures. Crack sealing prevents the penetration of surface water between the layers of asphalt and sub-grade rock, thus preventing premature pavement failures, deterioration and potholes.
When is it time for an asphalt repair?
Severe, criss-crossed cracking, what we call aligatored areas, is the primary indicator that a repair or replacement is necessary. This is because visible cracks always begin on the underside of the asphalt. When those cracks appear, it’s a sure sign that water, oil, gas, etc. are penetrating and damaging the underlayment. If caught early enough, these cracks can be filled before the pavement disintegrates into potholes, which are more unsightly and considerably more expensive to repair.
