Seal Coating – Helping Your Driveway Go The Distance

Seal coating can be a great way to extend the life of your driveway

Why should I seal coat my asphalt driveway?

When properly paved by professionals an asphalt driveway of the parking lot is both functional and attractive. But let’s face it, they have a tough job to do and are exposed to the elements.  The sun, rain and snow as well as freeze and thaw cycles, all play a role in deteriorating your asphalt driveway. Over time the elements eventually dry out the binders in the asphalt. When this happens little parts of, the asphalt start to flake and chip away causing to the asphalt to deteriorate.

Seal coating has been proven to dramatically extend the life of an asphalt driveway by protecting it from the elements. Not only does it look great and give your property fresh kerb appeal, but it can also save you thousands in repair costs.

How often should asphalt be sealed?

Normally Burnaby Blacktop recommends that you seal coat your driveway every 3- 5 years, but that number may vary depending on factors. The factors that influence how long a seal cost lasts include things like: How was the product applied? How many coats were applied? What was the quality of the product used? How clean was the surface, before the sealer was applied? How much traffic does your driveway receive? How much exposure to the elements does your asphalt receive? Direct sun, freeze-thaw cycles, and topography of the driveway all can impact the longevity of the seal coat as well.

Here is a list of some things you should know about seal coating.

How many coats of sealer should be applied?

There are usually two different types of applications. Spray and squeegee. When spraying a seal coat on you will usually want to go with two coats.

Caution: Be careful of “fly by night” seal coat companies that use the spray method. You may end up with black residue all over the side of your house or retaining wall.

When applying the seal coat by squeegee the sealer gets applied much thicker, and you can get away with one thick coat provided it’s a quality sealer, and the product is installed properly.

What kind of sealer gives the best results?

The best sealers are water based. Oil based sealers are rare nowadays and are harmful to the environment.

There are better and lesser grades of seal coats. The ones that we import directly from the manufacturer are industrial/commercial grade and far more durable than the sealer you fill find at your local hardware store.

When is the best time to seal my driveway?

Asphalt sealers should be applied on a dry day when the temperature is above 10 degrees Celsius.

Although drying times will vary depending on region and climate, it’s recommended that you let your seal coat dry for 24 hours before driving on it.

For the first couple of weeks after a fresh seal coat has been applied be cautious about (dry steering) your tires on the sealer. This is when you turn your tires on one spot without moving the car. It’s also best to avoid bringing any heavy equipment, garbage trucks, or other construction projects onto your fresh seal coat.

Got more questions about Seal Coating your driveway, give Burnaby Blacktop a call 1-778-855-0513, we will be happy to help!