Regular maintenance of your asphalt — sealing it every 2 or 3 years — will preserve your driveway for about 20 years. Without applying sealant, your asphalt driveway will only last about 12 years.
Yes, it is a necessity as you need to protect your valuable asset. If you want your driveway to last, sealcoating is the way to go. Unprotected asphalt leads to cracks and potholes that can severely damage your foundation.
Seal coating allows for a smoother, crack-free driveway, and because smoother pavements extend pavement life by as much as 10% to 25%, you won't have to worry about replacement or repairs for a much longer period of time.
Whether it's at a private residence or a public commercial property, every driveway needs to be sealed. Without a high-quality sealer, the beautiful decorative work you've had done on your driveway is at risk of getting damaged, fading, and looking worn out in a short amount of time.
One of the biggest disadvantages of concrete driveway sealing is the cost. The materials and labor required to seal a concrete driveway properly can be expensive. In addition, concrete driveways that are improperly sealed can trap moisture underneath the surface, which can lead to problems such as mold and mildew.
How often should I sealcoat my driveway? On average, every 2-3 years. The major factors that affect how the sealer wears is traffic flow, UV ray exposure, water flow and settlement, salt, snow plows, and other winter weather conditions.
If you're sealing an asphalt driveway, use a latex-based sealer. Avoid oil-based sealers because they will likely crack over time. Siloxane and acrylic sealants work well with concrete driveways. It's best to avoid high-gloss, which could make the driveway surface slippery.
However, if you use low quality concrete sealers, the surface may become slippery. Some sealers have high solid content which fills the pores on the concrete. In that case, a solid layer is formed on the surface of the pavement that becomes slippery when exposed to wetness.
1. APPLYING TOO MUCH SEALER OR THE WRONG KIND OF SEALER. While slathering seal coat over asphalt in a thick layer can be tempting, a “more is better” approach is detrimental to the pavement beneath. Too much sealer can lead to premature cracking, which will shorten the lifespan of your driveway.
How often should I seal coat my driveway? Industry standards recommend every two years; allowing the sealer to wear away before you reseal the driveway.
Sealers, particularly solvent-based sealers, will darken concrete. If unevenly applied, it will create light areas where there is less sealer, and darker areas where there's more.
Even expansion joints in your concrete driveway should be caulked. They can be the biggest culprit of water under your slabs. Notice how the caulking is slightly lower than the concrete slab around it. This protects the caulk from wear and tear of people walking and driving over it.
You should allow at least 24-48 hours for an asphalt sealcoat to dry. However, drying time varies based on the conditions of that particular day. Factors that impact the time it takes to completely dry include: Temperature.
Squeegee Pros:
More sealant is on the surface, so hopefully it will last longer. The squeegee is a bit bigger, so you don't have to go back and forth as much. Much easier to clean, just hose off and it's good.
Applying two coats of any sealer will dry and create a better finish much better than one thick coat. These sealers are water based, and they cure and form a film primarily during the evaporation of water from the coating. A thin coat will evaporate much faster and create a single uniform layer.
Concrete, cobblestone, asphalt, brick, and interlocking pavers are the most durable driveway installation options available today. Apart from their lengthy lifespans, these materials also hold up well in any climate, require minimal maintenance, offer a smooth drive, and elevate your home's first impression.
Rain does not affect the curing process.
Although 4 to 8 hours is the minimum amount of time you should provide for drying, the longer the better. It can take at least 24 hours for the driveway sealant to cure completely but if you give it 4 hours to dry it should be able to resist the rain and any possible damage that could occur.
The sealer is made up almost exclusively of asphalt. The UV rays will attack this thin coating, and it will begin to harden and fail.
Concrete should be sealed to protect from mold and mildew.
Because concrete is a porous material, it has a tendency to absorb moisture. When this moisture doesn't dry and the surface is left wet for an extended period of time, mildew begins to form and mold begins to grow.
Unsealed concrete is a porous material that freely absorbs liquids and is therefore vulnerable to unsightly staining from oils, chemicals, animal waste, moulds and much more besides.
For most sidewalks and driveways, the best choice is an acrylic sealer. Acrylics work by forming a clear coating on concrete. The coating is easy to apply with a roller or sprayer and will last two to five years, depending on weather and traffic.