How long does sealcoating driveway last?

Overusing sealer can cause peeling, flaking or cracking if it builds up. The industry standard is for sealcoating to be replaced every two years, which allows the sealer on your driveway or parking lot to wear away prior to resealing.

Is sealcoating worth the money?

Sealcoating will protect against fading, and can even improve the appearance of your asphalt. It will restore the lustrous appearance of the asphalt, even if some natural fading has occurred. It will also fill all of minor surface flaws, giving the pavement a smooth and even appearance.

How often should I sealcoat my driveway?

Sealing the driveway yearly can lead to unsightly hairline cracks and peeling. And concrete driveways should be sealed every four or five years to protect them from water penetration and to prolong their life.

Is sealing a driveway worth it?

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 best time of year to seal your driveway?

Spring Is The Best Time To Seal Coat Your Asphalt

It means your driveways and parking lots look great for the entire year, and warm spring weather is the perfect temperature for a well-set coat. Plus, a fresh seal coat is easily damaged by winter machinery, like snow plows.

Sealcoating the IMPOSSIBLE Driveway

What temperature should it be to seal a driveway?

The best temperature range for applying sealcoat is between 55 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Ideal temperatures are those that start around 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the morning and increase throughout the afternoon.

What is the lowest temperature you can seal a driveway?

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. This allows ample cure time for the pavement coating.

How much does it cost to spray seal 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.

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 happens if it rains after sealing driveway?

Rain and other precipitation will ruin the hard work you put into sealing your driveway. Rain will wash away driveway sealer, resulting in an uneven or nonexistent coat of sealant. Always check your local forecast before sealing your driveway. Sealant must cure for 4–8 hours before it can resist rain.

How much does a 5 gallon bucket of driveway sealer cost?

A moderately-priced sealcoat costs around $90 for 5 gallons, which has a maximum 500-square-foot coverage capacity. When figuring the additional costs of sealant, you can expect to spend $1,330 for a single coat of sealant to 1,000 square feet of asphalt.

Is it better to spray or brush 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.

Which driveway sealer is best?

Does sealcoating fill cracks?

Does sealcoat hide cracks and crack filler, making pavement look like new? No, it does not. You will see crack filler through sealcoat, as the crack filler is designed to expand and contract with temperature changes.

Is sealcoating bad for asphalt?

Asphalt seal coating is recognized as one of the most beneficial preventative maintenance treatment for your asphalt parking lot when TIMED PROPERLY.

Is oil based driveway sealer better?

Unlike water-based driveway sealers, oil-based varieties have a longer cure time and distinct odor that is quite strong and often lingers in the air for days after the sealing is complete. Oil-based sealers also contain VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, which pollute the environment.

How often should a blacktop driveway be resealed?

For this reason, it is generally a good idea to have your driveway resealed every two to three years. Although some homeowners insist on sealing their driveway every single year, this can potentially cause the sealcoat to crack and peel more so its best avoided.

How many gallons does it take to seal a driveway?

Divide the square footage of the driveway by 80 to find the number of gallons of sealer you need for one coat. Each gallon covers about 80 square feet and each bucket of sealer contains 5 gallons.

How soon after asphalt is laid should it be sealed?

If you've recently installed a new driveway, wait at least 90 days to a year to ensure the sealant doesn't damage the asphalt. Sealcoating a new driveway too early may trap oils within the asphalt, resulting in a driveway that is too soft or flexible. Sealcoat your asphalt driveway when the temperature is 50–90°F.

What happens if you don't seal your 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.

Should I seal my concrete driveway?

Even for those who live in areas where it never gets below freezing, sealing and coating your concrete driveway will help better protect it from discoloration, staining, and damage from oil, salt, and other household chemicals.

Can you seal coat concrete?

If you are seeking a way to maintain the quality and condition of your concrete driveway, you may want to consider sealcoating. With sealcoating, a technician will apply an extremely durable outer coating to the surface of your concrete driveway.

Can you seal a driveway in the evening?

You can apply sealer at any time of day as long as the pavement temperature does not fall past 40 degrees at night. You can even apply the sealcoat during the nighttime. Many people choose to start their sealcoat project around 10 AM as the sun's temperatures begin to rise, and the humidity is not too oppressive.

How long after sealing driveway can you walk on it?

Dry times for sealcoat depend greatly on the exposure to the sun and temperatures. In most cases, you can walk and drive on the driveway within 24 hours after sealcoating.

How do I prepare my driveway for sealing?