Frequently Asked Questions

Sealing your driveway every year will help prolong the life of your asphalt. Driveway sealer is designed to prevent the deterioration of the surface by UV rays. UV rays can make the surface brittle which will cause the driveway to crack.

Cracks in a driveway is caused by a brittle surface, which in turn comes from UV rays. Cracks should always be repaired before sealing your driveway. If cracks are left unsealed, water will escape into the cracks. This can cause 2 problems. One, the ground under your driveway can become soft and then when driven on, the asphalt breaks and you end up with a hole. The second, applies to colder climates. If the water under your driveway freezes, the expansion will push your driveway up and cause further cracks and damage.

This time will vary depending on weather conditions. We generally recommend 12 hours before putting cars back on the driveway. Pedestrian traffic is usually ok after a couple of hours, with more time allowed in shaded areas. In most cases, a driveway sealed some time before lunch will be safe to drive on after supper or prior to going to bed. Anyone who tells you more then 24 hours is doing something wrong and you should seek additional opinions.

Yes, the driveway will be a little more slippery, but this will wear off in 1-2 weeks depending on rain and traffic.

Such complaints will usually be traced back to the company sealing the driveway. There are a lot of people looking to make the quick buck. Complaints I have heard include: the sealer tracked through my house; my driveway turned brown after a couple weeks; I have sealer on my wall/siding/brick/garage door. These complaints are not uncommon and goes hand-in-hand with unprofessional service. Many companies will add such things as gas, oil or diesel to their sealer to thin it out and get more coverage. This thining will cause the sealer to take longer drying, with come off on shoes after it has dried and can turn the driveway a brown color. Driveway sealer SHOULD NOT be diluted! It should be applied 100% pure. Care should also be taken, using clean cutting boards to protect walls, siding and other items in the garden.

Driveway sealer applied with a roller is a great way for the do-it-yourselfer, but there are several advantages to having your driveway sprayed. The major advantage is the thickness of the sealer. Have a couple of years of application with a roller, the small holes in your driveway will begin to fill up, this will make your driveway very smooth and slick in wet conditions. This can be hazardous especially where elderly people are concerned. Spraying the driveway sealer will ensure you have adequate coverage, but at the same time, not make your driveway as slick in wet weather. Spraying your driveway is also faster, it dries quicker, and provides a more even coverage.

Prior to sealing your driveway, you should throughly clean it from all dust, dirt and debris. This is a process of sweeping it off, blowing it off with a leaf blower or if you have time, pressure wash it and allow it to dry before application. Any oil spots should be washed with a driveway cleaner and rinsed off. If you have cracks in your driveway, these cracks should be filled with a crack filler designed for this use. Most companies will use a broom and leaf blower to prep your driveway and a reputable company will have crack filler and cold patch on hand.

If you have a newly paved driveway, you should wait a minimum of 6 months before sealing it. Fresh asphalt contains light-weight oils that will evaporate over time. As these oils evaporate, your asphalt will become harder and harder. If a fresh driveway is sealed, the sealing will prevent this evaporation and your driveway might become permanently soft.

This is probably the most debated topic about sealing your driveway. Well, there are several reasons why roads and highways do not get sealed. First, the high volumn of traffic will rapidly wear away the sealed surface, so essentially, we would be throwing away money. Second, roadways are built differently then your home driveway or parking lot. Engineers and government officials plan on re-paving after a given period of time, homeowners don't normally plan for this. Third, UV rays will damage the surface of the asphalt, causing it to become brittle. With heavy traffic, this brittle surface will wear away and expose fresh new asphalt. Oil drippings from cars and trucks can even help in acting as a low-grade sealer. Typically, driveways don't recieve the same traffic so we must seal them to preserve the asphalt.