How to Coat an Asphalt Driveway
Every asphalt driveway should be coated with a sealer every two or three years. This process, most often called seal coating, helps your asphalt repel oil stains which can disintegrate the asphalt and adds protection from moisture, which can crack asphalt. BC Blacktop warns that homeowners should wait until the weather is 55 F during the day and night before attempting to coat their driveway. If you seal your driveway in cooler weather, the sealer won't cure properly. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Broom
- Cold-mix asphalt patch
- Trowel
- Hose
- Refined coal tar sealant
- Squeegee
- Trash can
Instructions
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Sweep your driveway with a long handled broom to remove dirt, leaves and debris.
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Stuff cold-mix asphalt patch into and cracks or chips on your driveway. Use your trowel to pack it down. Cold-mix asphalt patch does not need to be head before use and is an ideal product for homeowners because it's easy to work with. All you need to do is stuff any cracks with the patch, then pack it tightly.
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Wash off the driveway with a hose. If your driveway is dirty, you can scrub it with soapy water and a long-handled brush. Once you are satisfied your driveway is clean, rinse it again with the hose. The driveway should be wet but not have standing puddles. You'll apply the sealant while your driveway is still wet.
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Open your can of sealant and stir it with a paint stick. Ask the Builder recommends refined coal tar sealant, a decent quality sealant that's widely available.
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Pour a strip of sealant down your driveway starting two feet from your house. The strip should zig-zag from one end of the driveway to the other, like a giant S.
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Drag the sealant to coat the entire driveway using a long-handled squeegee. Laxelite.com recommends dragging the sealant in a half-moon shape back and forth and cautions against pushing the sealant with your squeegee. Add more sealant from the can if you need more. Re-wet the driveway with your hose whenever you encounter dry asphalt.
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Work in this manner until the entire driveway is covered. Then block the driveway entrance with your trash bin so no one uses it and allow the sealant to cure for 24 to 48 hours before use.
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Tips & Warnings
Ask the Builder recommends sealing new asphalt driveways within their first year, anywhere after the 90-day mark. Existing driveways need a new coat of sealant every two to three years.
Laxelite.com warns that your driveway sealant could cure at different rates and display different shades of black if you don't complete the sealing process all at once.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit asphalt image by AGphotographer from Fotolia.com
