Asphalt Sealing?

[Greatwhitewing]

Pardon me if this has been covered and provide a link to the thread, I **** at searches.

I have a new driveway (installed in may) and installer says the fall is the time to seal it (5-6 months?).

My question is two part. One is should I do it myself or is the quality of the sealer "better" with commercial services? What should I look for in a professional sealing service, formula or procedures? Warranty?

If doing myself is appropriate what type of sealer is "best"? One or two coats etc etc...? Masking needed for adjacent stone walkway?

Thanks for your help

 

[Nighttrain]

I had an asphalt driveway up in Michigan and it seemed most folks up there did them in the fall to protect any openings from the ice. I would say not to waste your money on the DIY approach. Ours was done by a crew which used the hot mix coating and it lasted the four years I was up there. A neighbor would use the DIY approach from HD and he would be coating it every year.

 

[jake26]

It has been my experience that having an insured company do the sealing with the correct process and materials is about 2X the cost of just the cheaper materials in the big box stores. Last time I painted my approach myself, the sealer was much thicker than I thought and I ended up buying 2X the amount I calculated, not to mention it cracked and pealed 2 years later and I lost my wedding ring in the process.

 

[Milton Shaw]

What ever you do, don't fall for the people that stop by and say "we were in the area and had some left". They move from town to town and just spray the driveway with old oil and diesel fuel mixed, get your money an leave. Seen it time after time around here. If you decide to go professional, go from yellow pages, check BBB and get references there are others that use the old oil trick also.

 

[ForceFed70]

I've always done it myself. Just did my actually.

Not sure if it saves any money, but I know it's done right. The professionals don't seem to put any prep time into the jobs. No oil stain primer, no degreasing prior to painting, etc. You're lucky if they pressure wash.

My neighbor and I both did ours this summer. They hired a pro, I did it myself with Home depot materials. I plan to keep an eye on our driveways to see if 1 holds up better than the other.

And yeah, depending on how rough your asphalt is, plan on getting 1/2 of the coverage advertised on the pail.

 

[darcyh]

I just applied the most expensive sealer available from Home Depot. It's supposed to last 10 years??

It's $41 for a 4 gallon pail and I applied 6 pails for two coats.

We'll see how well it stands up.

Dave

Dave

 

[JimVonBaden]

I just applied the most expensive sealer available from Home Depot. It's supposed to last 10 years??

It's $41 for a 4 gallon pail and I applied 6 pails for two coats.

We'll see how well it stands up.

Dave

Dave

Dave

Dave,

How large is your driveway?

Jim

 

[kert]

I did my mom's 30'x30' or so driveway once. Told her to pay somebody the next time. And I'm the guy who dug a 60-ft trench for his garage electrical and put 25sq of roofing on my barn by myself. Hell I even roofed the garage at my rental house with a hammer and nails.

 

[darcyh]

Dave

Dave,

How large is your driveway?

Jim

It's horseshoe shaped. 20 x 60 on on side and 15 x 60 on the other.

 

[Greatwhitewing]

Okay, thanks all for your input.

Summarizing what I got out of this is:
Professional is the way to go because hot product is better
Find a bonded insured company
Make sure they properly clean and prime before application

Anything else I should about materials or process from a professional?

 

[wssix99]

I took an asphalt pavement design course in school and the topic the first day was, "Why sealing asphalt pavement is the worst thing you can do."

Asphalt is porous and designed to hold water. If the driveway was constructed with appropriate drainage and a good base, there's no reason to seal it. Putting sealer on top of the pavement will trap moisture inside and may lead to cracking when you have a freeze.

If you do get cracking, the use of a good crack filler will keep the cracks from getting worse. This is the method that state DOT's use to maintain their pavements. If sealing was a good thing for the pavement, we'd see it on every road out there.

So don't "do it for the pavement." There are other positives to the treatment including: asthetics, anti-skid coatings, resale value, adding more time to a badly deteriorated pavement, etc. If you are going to seal, I'd also recommend going to a professional who has access to multiple coating types and can give you the end properties you are looking for. The big thing to remember is that sealing often comes with the price of reduced longevity of the pavement. (That depends largely on the type of pavement you have, climate, etc.)

Another thing to remember is that sealing materials are good for a lot of people. Initially, sealer came from power and steel plants as a product of burning coal. (One industry's hazardous waste is another's driveway sealing product.) You'll often find this stuff in hardware stores and they make a killer profit on it. It's also easy to see why a seal-coater would recommend it. (If you go see a car salesman, he'll try to sell you a car.)

Here's some good info on the products out there: http://www.justsealit.net/Asphalt_Sealcoating_Materials_Explained.html

 

[Greatwhitewing]

I took an asphalt pavement design course in school and the topic the first day was, "Why sealing asphalt pavement is the worst thing you can do."

Asphalt is porous and designed to hold water. If the driveway was constructed with appropriate drainage and a good base, there's no reason to seal it. Putting sealer on top of the pavement will trap moisture inside and may lead to cracking when you have a freeze.

If you do get cracking, the use of a good crack filler will keep the cracks from getting worse. This is the method that state DOT's use to maintain their pavements. If sealing was a good thing for the pavement, we'd see it on every road out there.

So don't "do it for the pavement." There are other positives to the treatment including: asthetics, anti-skid coatings, resale value, adding more time to a badly deteriorated pavement, etc. If you are going to seal, I'd also recommend going to a professional who has access to multiple coating types and can give you the end properties you are looking for. The big thing to remember is that sealing often comes with the price of reduced longevity of the pavement. (That depends largely on the type of pavement you have, climate, etc.)

Another thing to remember is that sealing materials are good for a lot of people. Initially, sealer came from power and steel plants as a product of burning coal. (One industry's hazardous waste is another's driveway sealing product.) You'll often find this stuff in hardware stores and they make a killer profit on it. It's also easy to see why a seal-coater would recommend it. (If you go see a car salesman, he'll try to sell you a car.)

Here's some good info on the products out there: http://www.justsealit.net/Asphalt_Sealcoating_Materials_Explained.html

Interesting info. I will read it and give it consideration.

I am not so sure my asphalt is really good quality. After I had it installed we starting hearing about installer problems, lawsuits and customer complaints. Mine is fine right now. Our stone walkway installer couldn't stop complaining about it???

 

[Nighttrain]

^^^^ highway Asphalt is a lot different from a residential asphalt job. Mostly the base is about a foot deep and they usually have three or so layers making up a 6" thick layer. THe prep is a lot better, big rollers and graders. Most residential driveways your lucky to get a 2" base and 2" after compaction layer of asphalt and applied with a roller not much bigger than a riding mower and weighing less than my high school girlfriend.

Good article though and good input.

 

[dandan111]

It's a new drive,I bet you would be fine with sealing it yourself.My grandparents had a top coat of asphault put down every so often and sealed it yearly. Grandpa liked a nice black drive!

 

[JimVonBaden]

It's horseshoe shaped. 20 x 60 on on side and 15 x 60 on the other.

Thanks! I am getting ready to do mine in a month and am trying to get an idea of the amount of sealant I need to get.

Jim

 

[wssix99]

^^^^ highway Asphalt is a lot different from a residential asphalt job. Mostly the base is about a foot deep and they usually have three or so layers making up a 6" thick layer. THe prep is a lot better, big rollers and graders. Most residential driveways your lucky to get a 2" base and 2" after compaction layer of asphalt and applied with a roller not much bigger than a riding mower and weighing less than my high school girlfriend.

So true. The secret to getting a driveway that looks as good as a road is to build the base up like a road. But very few people will pay for that and its an easy way for driveway companies to cut corners.

 

[Sealcoatindy]

I am a professional asphalt maintenance contractor and we always wait at least a year to seal new drives. Make sure you use a quality contractor that doesn't use sealmaster products. If you have any other questions feel free to ask. Mike

 

[ForceFed70]

I am a professional asphalt maintenance contractor and we always wait at least a year to seal new drives. Make sure you use a quality contractor that doesn't use sealmaster products. If you have any other questions feel free to ask. Mike

Thanks for replying Mike.

The asphalt contractors who did my driveway said the same thing. Wait at least 1 year.

What products would you reccomend for a DIYer like myself? I used products from a company called "Restoseal" the last time I sealed my driveway.

 

[Greatwhitewing]

I am a professional asphalt maintenance contractor and we always wait at least a year to seal new drives. Make sure you use a quality contractor that doesn't use sealmaster products. If you have any other questions feel free to ask. Mike

What are your thoughts on NOT sealing the asphault as one suggested?

I live in MA and we have huge temp swings. Had 100 this year and 0 is not all that uncommon. My driveway is larger than average but not a parking lot.. What type of materials would you suggest?

Should I walk away from a vendor willing to seal at 6 months or less?

Please feel free to educate me enough to be a wise consumer..

 

[nehog]

On coating...

I discussed this with the contractor who just finished my new drive and parking. Here is what he says:

1. For residential drives/parking he recommends coating. His applications last five to six years, while the stuff in cans doesn't last nearly as long.

2. The reason why roads are not coated is because it would wear off very quickly and not provide any value to speak of.

3. Most commercial parking lots are not coated, again due to the wear issues. However, some are (mostly for cosmetic reasons, often to make them either match where two lots are different colors (age usually), or when selling the property to make it look really good.

4. He recommends coating new work after 6 to 9 months. In my case, he'll call me in the spring and remind me.

I suppose if you have a small driveway (OK, mine is about a tenth of a mile, end to end, with parking and approaches) I suppose doing with cans of stuff would work. No way in blue heaven would I consider doing it myself however. Life's too short.

 

[Ben Buck]

I sealed my drive the beginning of July. 130 x 14, with 10 5 gallon buckets of sealbest from maynards. Took me 4 hrs and several brews!! Temp was in the high 90's, we stayed off of it for 3 days and it looks great.

 

[cash68]

I sealed my drive the beginning of July. 130 x 14, with 10 5 gallon buckets of sealbest from maynards. Took me 4 hrs and several brews!! Temp was in the high 90's, we stayed off of it for 3 days and it looks great.

How did it hold up?

 

[crepr12]

I have done both home depot and "pro" route neither one lasted and now my drive ways looks like ***...with cracks all over the place..

 

[Showkey]

Once you start with the sealer ...........you will doing it every year or every other year if you want the black look. No matter the product your basically painting the driveway. Then when the paint flakes your drive looks it like ****. Past home I think the driveway ( 20x120’) was held together by the sealer after 15 years. I was in for 18 5 gallons buckets every other year. It was the look.


The sealer is water and coal tar with maybe some poly additives.
The hot stuff........be very careful as it tends to track black on the the homes flooring and carpet over time.

The best advice don’t start down the sealer route.......if you do, wait at least 5 years on new pavement.

There are non coal tar products.
If you care there is a whole other topic on coal tar and pollution which relates back to the tracking in the home and also the water ways.

https://www.usgs.gov/mission-areas/...ce_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects