Questions and Answers

A-QUALITY SEALCOATING

PETER MARCHAND

What should I do to care for my driveway?Asphalt contains liquid, which needs time to harden and cure. It will be fully cured usually within 6-12 months; until then it will remain pliable and soft. I recommend keeping automobiles off for at least 3 full days, and longer in hot weather. Even when cured, asphalt can sometimes soften in extremely hot weather and harden as temperatures fall. To temporarily harden hot asphalt, you can water it down with a garden hose. If soapsuds should appear, do not be alarmed. This is a reaction between the diesel fuel found in asphalt and the chlorine found in some city water. Although every effort is made to avoid puddles in your driveway, some shallow ones are inevitable depending on the natural slope and drainage of your ground.

Why choose a professional that uses liquid asphalt?

Sealing a driveway yourself may look like a bargain. But you only get what you pay for...

If you want to reseal every year, do it yourself using a retail seal coating product. They usually contain sand and coal-tar emulsions, and they may be rubberized. They do not bind well to the asphalt below. And they don't last very long.

But if you want your driveway seal coating application to last 3 to 5 years, or more, call a professional that uses a product that contains GILSONITE. The reasons are clear: The professional buys quality sealers in bulk at a very considerable cost savings. Their materials are better and more durable than over-the-counter supplies. However, they are usually too caustic for consumer use. Professional seal coating applications with liquid asphalt often last longer because the quality of their materials is superior. Their up-front cost is higher, and therefore you pay a bit more for each application. But it costs less per year in the long run. You won't have to apply it every year because the liquid asphalt binds with, and becomes part of, the pavement. It has no build-up or cracking (like latex or rubber sealers), so the pavement looks better and lasts longer, too.

What if I have a NEW driveway?

To preserve your new driveway, it is advisable to seal coat it after it has been paved. Sealing too soon, however, may cause damage to your new drive. The best time to seal is 1-3 months but before12 months after it has been paved and, ideally, every 2-3 years after that. Sealing is most often done in the spring, summer, and early autumn. Because blacktop is naturally porous, water can seep into and through the paving. This not only causes deterioration, but also results in ridges and upheaval due to frost and freezing. Asphalt is also softened and broken up by gasoline, lube oil, grease, road salts and anti-freeze, which drips from cars. Our ARS sealer protects blacktop with a coating that is impervious to the elements. Unprotected driveways remain porous, dry out, become rough, and lose their life rapidly.

How often should the driveway be sealed?

How often should the driveway be sealed? With “bargain” sealers, yearly application is practically mandatory. Assuming, however, that a high grade “GILSONITE” type sealer has been used, it is not necessary to seal every year. Each driveway, of course, is different, but it is not unreasonable to expect it to last three years. Many will last even longer.

If you have a driveway that has never been seal coated, I recommend that you seal your driveway once the first year and again the following year using the Gilsonite sealer. Then you can wait for 2 or 3 years to seal coat again. Don't forget that this is a rejuvenating sealer. The sealer re-saturates the surface layer. If you regularly treat the driveway surface this way, you may be able to prevent some of the cracks from coming. Then you will save money by not having to repair or fill them later.

Don't Fall Prey to Seal Deals, such as:

1 Senior citizens discounts

Always get a quote before asking for a senior citizen discount.

2. Knock, Knock... I have some sealer left over from a job in your neighborhood, and I’ll give you a deal.

Ask them for the phone number and call the job they did in your neighborhood and see if they got that job by using the same technique.

3. Group discounts.

Usually they jack the prices up, so you all think you're getting a deal.

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