Asphalt Sealcoating Maintenance Tips
A properly sealed driveway resists staining and water damage, as well as benefiting from additional sun and weather resistance. The sealer also breathes new life into the appearance of the drive since it reinvigorates the color and evens out any discoloration. Sealing only needs to be done ever few years, when the driveway looses its water resistance and begins to look faded. The following tips can help you prolong the life of the new sealcoating.
Tip #1: Let it cure completely
The sealcoating must dry, or cure, completely before you walk or drive upon it. This can mean several days of staying off the driveway, depending on how much shade your drive receives and how the weather is behaving. Two days is usually sufficient, but the sealcoating company will provide you with an exact timeline depending on the specific conditions.
You can check the cure by putting on a white glove and pressing on the asphalt. If it comes up black, then the coating hasn't finished curing.
Tip #2: Keep it clear
Water and weather are the two main things that wear down sealcoating. While you may not be able to manage weather exposure, you can make sure water doesn't sit on the surface of the asphalt. Piles of leaves and yard debris hold water, which then works to weaken the sealcoating. Take the time to rake up these debris and dispose of them.
If you must leave anything sitting on the asphalt, such as a stack of wood, elevate it on a rack of some sort so that excess water drains instead of collecting under the item.
Tip #3: Tend to cracks promptly
If a crack opens up in your driveway, prompt filling will prolong the life of the driveway until your next sealcoating. Small cracks can be fixed with an asphalt patching compound, which comes in a tube and is applied similar to caulk. Larger cracks may need filled with a foam patching rod, which fills in the crack so you can then apply the patching compound over the top.
These repairs keep out moisture so the cracks don't result in further damage. By preventing further damage, the driveway continues to look good and stay in good shape until the next sealcoating appointment. Much of the patch will then be hidden the next time you need to sealcoat.
For more help with sealcoating and driveway care, contact an asphalt contractor like AAA Paving and Sealing near you.