Frequent Sealcoat and Asphalt Maintenance Questions 1. Why Sealcoat?
Numerous studies by the Asphalt Institute demonstrate the measurable benefits of preventive maintenance. Periodic Cracksealing and Sealcoating can more than double the life of your pavement.
2. Are all Sealcoat Products the same?
No! While many manufacturers produce “sealcoat”, the process, standards and compounds used in the making of sealcoat vary greatly. That is why Eco-Sealer, Inc. has chosen the nation’s premier manufacturer. You can buy “sealcoat” locally, but it won’t last as long. But that’s only part of the story. Do you really want to haul all those heavy pails home, spill it on your clothes (or worse, the house) and then try and make it look nice with a $10 squeegee? Or would you rather have a professional assess your driveway, make the necessary and proper crack repairs and seal it with State-of-the-Art equipment and standardized procedures?
Not all sealcoat is created equally and certainly not all sealcoat companies are created equally. We are serious about our products, our service and our reputation in the community. If price is the only determining factor, Eco-Sealer, Inc. may not be for you. We spend more time preparing the asphalt surface and cracks for sealing than the competition. And we’re fussy. Employees are paid by the hour, not the job. They each have specific orders to not cut corners and to do the job to our exact standards. With Eco-Sealer, you really can get what you pay for.
4. I’ve just installed a new driveway, should I have it sealed right away?
No. The pavement must lose some of its light oils and cure before you can properly sealcoat. 6 months to one year is generally enough time to cure the asphalt to accept sealcoat. But don’t wait too long, either! Newly installed, unsealed asphalt can absorb oil, gas and other chemicals or be damaged by winter weather before it’s treated. So don't wait over a year at most.
5. How long will it last?
With a new driveway sealed within 6 months to a year from installation, you could probably get 2 to 3 years of protection from your first application. If the driveway is 10 years old and was never sealed, you might only get 1 year from the first application, but 2 to 3 years from subsequent sealcoat applications. Additionally, variables such as water runoff, salt, sand, snowplowing and severe temperature swings will play a role in the longevity of your sealcoat. Anyone that promises 5, 6 or 7 years or more of coverage is simply making empty promises that you’ll have no way of enforcing.