Information on Driveway Seal Coatings

About Sealers

• There are dozens of products to choose from when it comes to driveway sealants, each with varying costs and quality. Choosing a quality sealer will significantly extend the life of a driveway, is fairly inexpensive and easy to accomplish. A bit of research will aid in selecting the right product for your driveway and environmental conditions. Some products work best for concrete, while others do well on asphalt. It is also important to select a product that will withstand temperature highs and lows, snow and ice as applicable. This information will be listed on the product label and most manufacturers will provide technical specs on their websites.

Blacktop

• Blacktop, also called asphalt, is a fairly common choice for driveways in the United States and is also the cheapest to construct and maintain. These driveways are constructed using stones and tar, then sealed with a asphalt sealer to prevent water damage, cracks and premature aging. The sealer must be replaced at least once every year, a process which will extend the life of the driveway significantly and prevents weeds from growing between the stones. The asphalt should be prepared with a thorough spray down with a hose, and any weeds or grass removed. The process takes approximately two hours per 20 feet of driveway and needs 24 hours to dry properly. Proper temperature is important to a good outcome, and sealants shouldn't be applied until temperatures reach at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Concrete

• Concrete is particularly common in areas with mild or even climates, as that is where it's lifespan is the longest. Without maintenance in areas with fluctuating warm and freezing temperatures it will last approximately 20 years. Cracking is something that occurs is all concrete products, but is rarely serious enough to harm function. Concrete requires the use of a penetrating concrete sealer, a product that reaches below the surface to make concrete resistant to water, ice and other harsh conditions. Once the concrete has been poured, it should be allowed to cure for at least a day before sealant is applied. Once rolled on, the sealer should be allowed to dry for at least another 24 hours, during which no rain should make contact with the surface, additionally, walking or driving on the concrete should not be permitted.

Other Materials

• Block pavers are similar in appearance to brick, but tend to be much denser. They are applied in the same way as brick, a process that is done by hand and tends to be very time consuming. Pavers are among the most durable products on the market, and will regularly last several hundred years with no extra care or maintenance. This maintenance free policy includes no required sealing to withstand damage. Gravel is an additional option, but is not a good choice in areas with heavy snow or ice. These driveways are constructed using crushed stone, and only require an occasional application of weed killer. There is no sealing or other maintenance involved, though replacement is done as often as once every year or two.