[gda]

This is a basic question and there are a lot of articles (opinions) on how often you should apply a sealant to the asphalt driveway.

There are 2 main reasons I was not sure after reading all the articles. The first reason is that the range. Some conservative estimates were from 1-3 years. Some were even up to 5 years. The second reason is that some even say as long it is in good condition, you do not have to do much.

It has been about 2 years since the drive was resealed and the house/ driveway itself is about 3 years old.

Do you think I should apply the sealant now. Is there a simple test that I can use to determine the frequency to apply the sealant?

Thanks in advance.

 

[stadry]

usually sealer is applied when the surface begins to show distress from uv & oxidation

 

[dj3]

It depends on the asphalt condition more than the age. And the asphalt condition depends on many factors, some external (weather, sun, snow salt, traffic) and some internal (quality of asphalt, depth of asphalt).
So you inspect the condition, deal with cracks as they appear and seal when needed. This way, you'll get more years out of your driveway.

 

[RRH]

I used to do mine every 3 years. Mostly for looks. Does help some for it to last longer. But that depends most on how well the job was done. Compressed.

But I dont like the way ALL sealers will start to degrade. Just a little ends up on your shoes then on carpet inside the house. Can notice it over time.

 

[Old Thomas]

Depends on its condition and the quality of the sealer. Good stuff that the county slurry seals public roads with lasts at least 5 years. Cheap stuff is like painting your driveway black with cheap paint.

 

[gda]

Thanks for all the advice.

Yes, it my previous house, sealant was applied every year (taken care of by the HOA), but by the end of the year, cracks would start appearing again. They probably used cheap materials as you say as it had to be a yearly process. It would look like brand new for about a week and start fading right after that.

What should I look for or insist on when selecting a company to do the job. I am getting quotes for about $70 from a company who clearly state the following about their work - "Sealcoating is considered preventative maintenance. All existing damages such as cracks, crumbling, depressions, and holes will still be visible once the driveway is sealcoating. With our sealcoating service, we make every attempt to fill any isolated crack between a 1/8 to a 1/2 an inch in with prior to sealcoating the driveway (this does not included spider-web cracks or myriads). We make no guarantees on our crack filling service and will not return to refill the cracks."

I have examined my driveway and I do not have any cracks to fill. Is there anything I should insist on the material they use or the work they do?

 

[RRH]

Depends on its condition and the quality of the sealer. Good stuff that the county slurry seals public roads with lasts at least 5 years. Cheap stuff is like painting your driveway black with cheap paint.

I agree with this article.
For years I thought people where not wiping there shoes off when coming in from my side door by driveway.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...-sealing-your-blacktop-driveway-is-pointless/

 

[dj3]

RRH,
Cancel your prescription to that paper.

 

[MTN REMODEL LLC]

I kept a 40 year old asphalt satisfactory, at 7600 ft summer sun exposure and pretty tough winters in the Co mountains with seal coating every two years.

Best I used was GILSONITE which was became difficult to find in 5gal buckets verse 55 drums.

Went to use water base latexite at HD. Severarl different grades. I did use best grade, as there really is a difference. I did crack fill with a caulk filler.

PIA...I now have concrete.

 

[AllanJ]

I read somewhere (I forget where) more than a decade ago that the primary benefit of driveway or pavement sealer is sun protection.

The stone particles being the high spots are inherently resistant to sun damage and don't suffer when the sealcoating wears off of them first as cars roll over the pavement. The seal coating covers the not so high spots for a longer time and these spots have most of the exposed and more sun sensitive asphalt binder between the stone particles.

Hairline and slightly wider cracks sealed with paint-on driveway sealer will not remain watertight over their entire lengths for long. If water gets in anywhere then the driveway is subject to freeze thaw cycles again.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,...... With 27 years in the blacktop biz, My opinion is,.....
Seal coatin' does only one thing fairly well,.....
It makes the driveway Black again,...... for alittle while,.......

To truly preserve a blacktop driveway, dust it with pure Portland cement, 'n fan it with a hose to super hydrate the Portland, 'n let it seep into any cracks, 'n fissures,....

The driveway will be grey insteada black, but it'll be much better protected,.....

 

[stadry]

we were slurryseal installers for # of years - mostly cty roads & runways/taxiways/aprons, etc - ny, pa, nj, & ct,,, similar to what bondo posted in that slurryseal was portland cement, asphalt cement, & fine aggregate,,, touted to add 7yrs to useful life, think it was more like 10 - sarataga cty, ny, airport sticks out in my memory
im' on bondo's bench
what's rarely considered in asphalt paving, flexible pavement, is jointing over conc roadways, decent crack sealing program, & active maintenance budget

 

[rmoore853]

The answer to the question how often you should apply a sealant to the asphalt driveway, is every 3 years. That's the rule of thumb.

 

[CodeMatters]

RRH,
Cancel your prescription to that paper.

Best not to take any papers internally.

 

[gda]

Thanks for all the advice.