I’m gettting ready to seal my newer paved driveway for the first time. I’ve visited Lowes and see the premium product indicate that you should apply two coats of the sealer. I dont recall seeing others do this. Is it pretty standard to apply one coat, or is it highly recommended to do two? It looks pretty straightforward to apply, is there any tips or suggestions that experience can indicate? I plan on buying the roller applicator. My driveway is pretty clean with no oil or other stains, it is 9 months old. Have brushed it off, but not powerwashed it.
THanks,
Tom
Replies
Go with two coats, especially for the new pavement. Clean it up nice and go at it. Make sure you have enough so you don't have to run back to the store.
There are a lot of folks who argue that standard homeowner-applied blacktop/asphalt sealing does no real good. They say that the stuff that's available is little more than paint and doesn't significantly extend the life of the driveway.
There are a lot of folks who argue that standard homeowner-applied blacktop/asphalt sealing does no real good. They say that the stuff that's available is little more than paint and doesn't significantly extend the life of the driveway.
That's probably true, but what it does do is protect the driveway from oil and gasoline. None of my current vehicles leak, but my previous van did and the driveway held up to it. And then there's the occasional visitor with a leak or people who use my driveway to turn around and drip oil on it (the BASTARDS!).
I'm somewhat curious about why a 9 month old driveway would need sealer, but, hey, whatever works. I've never understood the whole sealer thing anyway. What is so special about the asphalt mix used on driveways, that it doesn't stand up to the weather?
a maintainance plan for asphalt .. ie... crack repair and sealer is very cost effective over the life of your asphalt...
asphalt does better under traffic than it does as a drive or parking lot... it needs the constant compression that traffic (all in the same direction) gives it... drives & parking lots lacking the traffic to keep asphalt compressed and therefore sealed... you need to keep it sealed keep out the moisture and the freeze thaw damage and helps prevent UV damage...
I'd just about rather maintain a roof than a parking lot...
but once a year i try to take a week and make it parking lot week... i have ride on sealers, compactors, sweepers, hot crack pump machine... crack routers, crack cleaners, sealing equipment and stripers,,, takes 2-3 days of working on equipment that hasn't been used in a year... a few days of cleaning and repairing bad areas and a few days of sealing and stripe'n... why? because around here anyone that does small jobs is a ripoff gypsy looking to make 15k on one seal job where they water down the sealer so much it burns off in 6 mo...
i can buy the best sealer for about $2 a gal... mix about 4lbs sand per gallon and have a like new looking parking lot that makes my property look good... something about a very clean well striped lot... like a well edged lawn...
yes sealer is needed in the first year and every 3-4 years after with cracks sealed #### they appear
p
go with two....
but why at 9 months???
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