DIY: Resealing Asphalt

While asphalt is a durable material, it will crack and wear down after years of exposure to the elements. In climates that experience below freezing temperatures, asphalt will crack due to the expanding and contracting of the material. With an asphalt filler and sealant, you can restore your asphalt surface in only a few hours of work. Yearly maintenance of the asphalt will ensure that the surface remains usable for years to come.

Push broom
Hose
Caulking gun
Asphalt repair caulk
Utility knife
Putty knife
Asphalt cold patch
Steel tamper
Asphalt sealant
Paint tray
Paint roller

Instructions

- 1
  Pull up and remove any weeds from the surface and dispose of them. Sweep any dirt and debris from the surface with a push broom.
- 2
  Rinse the asphalt with a garden hose and then wait at least two hours for the surface to dry before continuing.
- 3
  Fit a tube of asphalt repair caulk into a caulking gun so that the tip points outward.
- 4
  Slice the tip of the caulk as a 45-degree angle.
- 5
  Insert the tip of the caulk into cracks in the asphalt surface wider than 1/4 inch and lay down a bead of caulking so that the caulk slightly protrudes over the surface.
- 6
  Smooth down the caulk over the asphalt surface with a putty knife. Wait for the caulk to cure fully before continuing.
- 7
  Fill holes wider than 1 inch with asphalt cold patch material. Compress the cold path material so that it is level with the existing asphalt surface using a steel tamper.
- 8
  Fill a paint tray with an asphalt sealant and spread it onto the surface with a paint roller. Keep your strokes even and smooth to apply a single coating over the surface. A typical 5-gallon barrel of sealant will cover approximately 300 square feet of asphalt surface.

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