Asphalt Driveway Sealing

Before winter sets in is a good time to look at sealing your driveway whether its concrete or pavement. Like everything else in your home a driveway is an investment and the better it looks the more salable your home. Sealing protects the surface and seals any tiny cracks of fissure that have developed. In addition it reduces wear on the pad.

Before actually sealing your driveway wash it thoroughly and let dry. Then go over every square foot and mark any cracks or depressions. if grass is growing through a crack spray it with a weed killer and let it sit for a week. Then remove the weed to to the root. You can get a pro to come and spray it for you. The plus with this is that they have the proper equipment so there’s no mess so you have no tar on you hands or tracking through the home. If you do it yourself there are four types:

1.  Asphalt Sealer: This is the standard sealer and is like the type they put on the roads.

2.  Water-Based: This a newer product and the asphalt is suspended in water. This is more friendly to the environment but not as effective as the tar-based.

3.  Coal Tar-Based Sealer: This material is the best for driveways, tennis courts and any places where traffic is heavy. Since coal tar is different than asphalt it resists ozone, ultra-violet rays and spills from antifreeze, gasoline and oil.

4.  Acrylic Sealers: These are the most expensive but worth it. In addition you can get them in a variety of colors. As they are not affected by ultra-violet rays or other elements acrylic sealers will look great for years.

The best time to put on sealer is when the weather is hot as the sealer will take longer to set and melt into all the crevices. Do not do this every year otherwise  layers will build up and peel as each layer is only as strong as the bond beneath.

If the driveway is new wait 3 months before getting it sealed but no more than 6 months. This will help the light oils evaporate so that the pavement will harden.

Driveway Paving Tips

One of the greatest ways to finish off your landscaping is with a new driveway. The new shimmering pad is like a welcome mat for your home especially if the driveway slopes toward the road.

Many homeowners choose to have concrete driveways but concrete shows stains and can crack if not put down properly. Cracking also loosens the plates and the driveway can look like smashes plate – especially if it is sloped.

Asphalt paving is a popular choice because it is cheaper than concrete, easier to maintain and sheds snow and ice better than the cement-filled pad. Here are some tips for paving your driveway:

1) Base: Make sure the contractor puts down and compacts a gravel or crushed rock base.

2) Pick Some Close: With the price of oil raising the price of asphalt and the price of fuel to transport it look for contractors who will be working in your area. Sometimes they will give you a price break because their machines do not have to be transported far.

3) Mark the Boundaries: Figure out what you want paved and carefully mark this off so that the supervisor has a clear picture of what you want.

4) Stay Away for a Week: Give the pad a week before parking a vehicle on it. This will allow the asphalt cement to harden.

5) New Homes: Let the area around a new home settle at least a year before paving. The elements will allow any voids under the soil to be filled an compacted.

6) Clean-Up: Before paying anybody make sure the area around the paving has been cleaned up.

Spring Driveway Repair

When the snow finally leaves and you finally get around to cleaning up there’s not doubt that you’ll see some blemishes, and even holes, in your asphalt driveway. Salt, water, shoveling and the freeze-thaw cycle takes its toll on this pad and the odd crack and hole is to be expected. Now, you can spent a couple of hundred dollars and get a paving crew to come and do patching but that’s a couple of hundred bucks! Here are some tips to do it yourself.

1. Clean: The area where the defect is should be cleaned with soap and water and let dry thoroughly. Then vacuum with an industrial-style unit to get all the small debris. Oil and other stains can be taken off with a driveway cleaner you can buy at the home supply store.

2. Cracks: Fill any cracks with a crack filler also available at the home center. It comes in a caulking-style tube for convenience. Smooth over the surface and blend it with the surface of the pavement with a putty knife.

For holes and large cracks it’s best to use a cold-patch compound from the home center. Cold patch asphalt begins curing process as soon as it is applied so you have to work fast. before you begin shape the hole for the best possible application. In other words the bottom of the crevice should be as wide as the top. Get rid of any pieces of old pavement and dust. Tamp it down with the end of a 4″ X 4″ piece of wood and trowel smooth before it sets.

If the crack or hole is deep it may take two applications to do a good job so let the first one set for a day before doing the next. Also, placing a piece of plywood over the crack and driving over it is a good way to compress it further.

For extensive cracks and holes it’s best to get a paving contractor to do the work.