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Seal Your Own Driveway
Sealing an Asphalt Driveway Protects it from
Water, Weed, and Ultraviolet Sun Damage
By: Mark J. Donovan
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Sealing your driveway is an
important part in maintaining an asphalt driveway and extending the life if
it. The fall season is the perfect time of the year to seal your own
driveway. Sealing a driveway prevents water from working its way into
surface cracks and underneath the asphalt. Once water gets underneath an
asphalt driveway it can quickly begin to undermine the integrity of it. The
water can cause erosion which eventually will lead to sink holes in the
asphalt. In addition, during winter months melting snow and ice water can
work its way into the asphalt driveway cracks during the day and then freeze
underneath the driveway when the temperatures drop.
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This situation leads to heaving,
settling and eventually crumbling of the driveway. Sealing your driveway
also prevents weeds growth and protects it from oil spills. It also protects
the asphalt from the Sun’s ultraviolet rays which breakdown the binding
material in the asphalt.
Though you can pay someone hundreds of dollars to seal your driveway you can
easily seal your own driveway for a fraction of the cost in little as a half
a day’s worth of work. This said a newly poured asphalt driveway needs at
least 3 to 6 months to fully cure prior to sealing it.
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This allows time for the
hydrocarbon oils in the asphalt to evaporate and the asphalt to fully
harden.
Prior to sealing your driveway, make sure to repair any cracks or holes in
it using either a cold patch or an asphalt driveway crack sealer. Asphalt
driveway crack fillers are made from a synthetic rubber and come in either a
tube that you apply with a caulking gun or in jugs where you simply pour the
filler into the crack or hole. Once you’ve applied the crack filler allow
several weeks for it to fully cure prior to sealing your driveway.
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To actually seal your own driveway you’ll need 5 gallon containers of coal tar
driveway sealer. I recommend buying coal tar driveway sealer over asphalt based
sealers due to the fact that coal tar driveway sealer does a better job of
protecting the asphalt from oil and gasoline spills. The amount of driveway
sealer containers required will depend upon the size of your driveway and the
amount of square area each container covers. Typically a 5 gallon container will
cover 350 to 400 square feet. Calculate the area of your driveway and then
divide it by the amount of area each container can cover. This will determine
how many containers of driveway seal you’ll need.
Apply the driveway sealer to your asphalt driveway on a warm day so that it
spreads easily. To actually spread the driveway sealer use a long handle
squeegee or broom that is specifically made for sealing driveways. Prior to
actually pouring the driveway sealer onto your driveway, make sure to thoroughly
stir each container well. Make sure when applying the driveway sealer that you
do not put it on too thick. Otherwise it may take much longer to cure and it
will be susceptible to peeling.
After sealing your driveway make sure not to walk or drive on it for a few days.
Typically a driveway sealer needs a couple of warm dry days prior to driving a
vehicle on it. If the weather is less than perfect you may need several more
days to allow it to properly dry and harden.
Finally, keep in mind that sealing a driveway is not a once in a lifetime event.
To ensure a long asphalt driveway life you should plan on sealing your driveway
every 2 to 4 years.
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Asphalt Driveway Paving Bid Sheet will help
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correctly and you get the finished driveway you are looking for.
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required.
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