Tools for Resealing a Driveway

Exposed to weather and wear, asphalt driveways gradually crack and develop pits and holes.

Both concrete and asphalt driveways require occasional maintenance, including crack repair and resealing. Left untreated, cracks and spalls often result in serious problems, such as uneven slabs or potholes. However, regular maintenance and resealing ensures that driveways remain smooth and usable. Depending on the driveway material and desired level of finish, you can use common, manually operated tools or rented power equipment to reseal a driveway. Become familiar with driveway resealing tools and procedures and you can select the right tools for your project.

Cleaning Tools

Regardless of driveway type, you must clean cracks and holes prior to resealing; failure to remove trapped debris prevents fills and sealers from properly adhering. Initial cleaning tools include brooms and stiff brushes. While push brooms clean the greater driveway surface, stiff brushes allow you to access the interior of cracks and holes. For large or tough jobs, pressure washers, water hoses or air hoses perform a comprehensive cleaning of driveway surfaces.

Asphalt Filling and Resealing Tools

To achieve a smooth, stable finished surface, paving professionals sometimes fill cracks and holes prior to resealing asphalt. Filling tools include shovels for distributing underlayment, such as sand and gravel, and tampers for pounding cold asphalt repair mixtures. Whereas traditional asphalt requires heating during installation, cold repair mixtures are simply poured and tamped in place. Alternatively, crack filler compounds are applied with either caulking guns or putty knives. The tools used to apply asphalt resealing compound include rollers, squeegees, broom-like brushes or commercial spraying units.

Concrete Repair and Resurfacing Tools

Prior to resurfacing concrete driveways, cracks and holes receive a filling of either repair mortar or flexible concrete filler. Masons apply repair mortar with concrete hand tools, such as trowels and floats. Flexible concrete fillers are generally applied with either caulking guns or putty knives. The term "resurfacing" refers to covering a concrete driveway with a thin layer of smooth concrete. Specially designed resurfacing concrete mix is applied to driveways with trowels, floats, brooms and squeegees. Applied to concrete, the term "resealing" refers to the spray, roll or brush on application of waterproofing compounds; sealing concrete is similar in concept to waterproofing wood decks.

Sealing Paver Driveways

Like concrete slab driveways, brick and concrete paver driveways benefit from sealing with surface coatings. Brick and concrete sealing compounds are similar to waterproofing compounds for wood. Typically applied by brush or roller, the compounds are clear with a satin or glossy finish. Aside from application tools, such as rollers and brushes, resealing pavers or bricks might require cleaning tools to remove water damage. Cleaning tools include stiff-bristled brushes and pressure washers. If using acidic compounds to etch or clean masonry pavers, such as muriatic acid, repairers must wear approved respiratory, skin and eye protection.

References

• University of Minnesota: Asphalt Surface Repair
• University of California, Berkeley - Technology Transfer Program; Rigid Pavement Distress and Strategy Selection; April 15, 2009
• New Jersey Institute of Technology: Driveway Resealing Guide