So last September I had my driveway repaved and widened and now I'm wondering it its worth it to seal coat the driveway. The contractor that repaved my driveway did a great job but didn't mention seal coating and I didn't think to ask at the time. So is seal coating something I should look in to and what's the benefit of seal coating? I'd like to keep my driveway looking good for as long as possible and don't mind paying for seal coat if it's something worthwhile doing. Thanks

I'm not a fan, it looks good initially but then wears out leaving the real surface coming through, and then it's back to seal coating again. My neighbors company builds Wal-Marts, Publix and our HOA brought it up for our streets and he had a myriad of reasons to not do it.

My dad had us do this back in the 70's as kids to our driveway, and every year after it had to be redone to look right.

Plus I hated doing that stuff, you always get it on your skin somewhere....

I put down a new thick asphalt driveway at my home about 35 years ago. Az.is double tough on black asphalt. I re-seal coat my driveway about every 3 years, and it is holding up just fine. Looks good also.

When I widened and redid my asphalt driveway the contractor said to give it a couple of years to cure before seal coating.

I was always under the impression that seal coating was for old asphalt that you are trying to extend the life of, not brand new stuff?

Asphalt seal coat is slicker than unsealed pavement when wet of covered w/ snow/ice. I would never suggest it for a road. I used to work for an outfit that serviced asphalt parking lots. Sealcoat will slow the oxidation of the asphalt and degradation from the sun over time, helping maintain its flexibility. It also will reduce the effect of oil drips, which over time act as a solvent leaving soft spots where cars often park.

Driveways do not receive the abuse parking lots do. The primary benefit in that application is appearance.

The folks we’ve used encouraged “fog sealing”. Supposedly, it’s a penetrating oil that helps extend the life of the asphalt without changing the surface. I was discouraged from using sealcoat as it supposedly seals off the asphalt and you’re not going to be able to get any more oil into the mat once you sealcoat it.

slosig is right. If you can find someone in your area to "fog seal" your asphalt you'll be well off.

I've built dozens of parking lots for Love's Travel Centers and before the first car or truck gets on the new pavement it gets fog sealed.

We reseal our asphalt driveway abut every three years. I am confidant it is money well spent.

There are several different grades of material used to do this. We used the top grade for the first time last fall and it still looks brand new. I suspect a lot of the complaints come from using the bottom grade which may not even last a year.

quote:

Originally posted by Bassamatic:
We reseal our asphalt driveway abut every three years. I am confidant it is money well spent.

There are several different grades of material used to do this. We used the top grade for the first time last fall and it still looks brand new. I suspect a lot of the complaints come from using the bottom grade which may not even last a year.

Are you sealing the driveway yourself or paying a contractor?

I sealed mine the 4th year.

I was under the impression resealing is mostly cosmetic. It looks new, is nice and black, but doesn’t really change much as far as longer term preservation or life extension.

I’ve done some myself, not in recent years though.

quote:

Originally posted by calugo:

Are you sealing the driveway yourself or paying a contractor?

Oh, definitely a contractor. I'm way too old to tackle that job.

Our driveway is probably a good 100 yards long and curvy. It's been down for 17 years now. Your biggest enemy will be trees in the area (we have more than a few) and those roots will find a way to disrupt your asphalt. Time and the weather will also take a toll.

Getting a honest, reliable contractor is a must. We have our share of shady guys that use the cheapest grade available and do not properly prep the asphalt before the final spray. Our people use HOT asphalt for everything. After blowing off the leaves and dirt they use, by hand. a HOT hand mop and walk the driveway forcing the asphalt into the cracks and crevices that will always show up over time, then the final spray.

As you might have guessed, heat is the key. Our guy has a huge trailer with a propane furnace for the job. Get the high grade material as well. You will thank me later. Good luck.

I had it professionally done on the first driveway at our house (600'x18) every 3 years. Eventually, it starts to crack and peel up like alligator skin and looks worse than rough asphalt. I've had several paving contractors tell me it's purely cosmetic. I had the driveway replaced about 3 years ago and won't do it on this one.

MNSIG: Interesting, I've also talked to a number of paving contractors over the years and have never had one tell me that resealing is purely cosmetic. Maybe it's the area we live in? Here in Missouri, our winters have huge temperature swings. You can go from Zero temperature to the mid 60's in just a few days. Water getting into cracks and freezing, then thawing plays havoc with asphalt over time.

All I really know is our asphalt is 17 years old now and it looks great and in pretty good overall condition. Hopefully I can keep it that way.

^^^^

It may be a regional thing or the financial incentive paving companies have for selling resealing. If sealcoating really made asphalt last longer and save money over the long term, why don't you see it on streets and roads? Resurfacing with chip coat is a different matter.

quote:

Originally posted by 7iron:
Asphalt seal coat is slicker than unsealed pavement when wet of covered w/ snow/ice. I would never suggest it for a road. I used to work for an outfit that serviced asphalt parking lots. Sealcoat will slow the oxidation of the asphalt and degradation from the sun over time, helping maintain its flexibility. It also will reduce the effect of oil drips, which over time act as a solvent leaving soft spots where cars often park.

Driveways do not receive the abuse parking lots do. The primary benefit in that application is appearance.

I use a different sealer than you do, it's actually the opposite, much gripper due to sand in the mix.

Let's ask Sal