Driveway Sealcoating

Asphalt driveways have a handful of indicators that it’s time for a new layer of sealcoating. These include small visible cracks, a greying of the asphalt, and aggregate material like small chunks of gravel coming loose. 

If you have noticed any of those issues, sealcoating your driveway will not only keep it looking new, but it’ll help protect it over the coming years. 

Why You Should Sealcoat Your Driveway

Asphalt driveways that don’t receive sealcoating will have a tremendously reduced lifespan. Where most asphalt-surfaced driveways can last up to 30 years or longer with this routine maintenance, that lifespan can drop to as low as ten years - maybe even fewer. This is because sealcoating helps protect against oxidation of your asphalt, and oxidation is your driveway’s worst enemy. It leads to the cracking, greying, and chipping away mentioned before. 

Those small issues can quickly lead to larger problems, such as: 

• Shifting base layers
• Large cracks
• Potholes
• Alligator cracking

Without routine sealcoating of your asphalt surface, you will also invariably drop the overall value of your home thanks to a reduced curb appeal. 

How Sealcoating Helps Your Driveway

• Protection From Seeping Water
  When the top layers of asphalt start breaking down, water can seep into the base layers and wreak havoc on the structural integrity of the driveway as a whole. Sealcoating helps keep this from happening. 
• Prevent Oxidation
  Oxidation is the main culprit when it comes to cracks forming on an asphalt surface, and sealcoating can help keep this from happening at a rapid pace. 
• Increase Your Home’s Curb Appeal
  Sealcoating will take your drab, gray asphalt driveway and make it look brand new again. In turn, this means an improved curb appeal and an increase in your home’s value. 
• Enhance Your Driveway’s Flexibility
  The dark coloring that comes with fresh sealcoating will help your driveway hold in warmth, which makes the bitumen (the binding agent in asphalt) more flexible. This flexibility will help keep potholes and large cracks from forming. 

Residential Driveway Sealcoating FAQ

More often than not, our customers have some specific questions about our sealcoating process. Here are a few that we hear the most often. 

How often should my driveway be sealcoated?

If you have only recently installed your asphalt driveway, you should wait at least 6 months before sealcoating your driveway but no longer than 12 months. The reason for the wait after the initial installation is because the asphalt needs time to settle and cure. Likewise, a newly installed asphalt surface requires time to have substances left behind from the installation wash away so they don’t get trapped under the sealcoating. 

If your driveway has been sealcoated before, you should normally wait three years before the next application. Please note that driveways that receive extensive traffic or harsh conditions will require more frequent sealcoating. 

How long does sealcoating a driveway take?

For most driveways, sealcoating will take one working day to complete the job. Damaged or particularly-worn driveways may take two workdays to complete. 

When will I be able to drive on my driveway?

After sealcoating, you can drive on your driveway between 24 and 48 hours after application and walk on it between 8 and 12 hours. The time it takes ultimately depends on a handful of factors, including time in the sun, the temperature, and current humidity levels. 

Why Choose JJ Premium Sealers?

JJ Premium Sealers takes your needs into account and we understand how important your time is to you. That being said, we’re different from other sealcoating contractors in some important ways, including: 

• We’re locally operated and family-owned
• Our service is always professional and friendly
• We will accommodate your schedule

We truly want to ensure your driveway becomes a stunning and welcoming part of your home. Get in touch with us today for a free estimate.