Repairing and Sealing an Asphalt Driveway

How To Seal Your Driveway

Repairing and sealing your asphalt driveway is one of those tasks you just like to put off but it must be done if you don’t want the driveway to deteriorate to the point that it has to be completely replaced. Making the repairs and sealing the driveway before the hard winter weather settles in will prevent further deterioration from the winter weather. Because of the workings of nature asphalt will deteriorate over time if it is not maintained. Asphalt is made from a combination of gravel, petroleum products, and ground up used tires. The petroleum is used as a binder to hold the mixture together. When heated and rolled on a gravel surface it forms a very hard and durable surface which makes it perfect for roads, walkways, and driveways. It s also used in tennis court construction. Where ever asphalt is used it needs to be sealed to protect it.

Asphalt is water resistant and is elastic enough to withstand rigorous weather conditions without buckling and heaving as concrete often does. It can withstand tremendous compression loads of heavy vehicles and equipment.  If maintained it will last in driveways for fifteen to twenty five years.  However, asphalt can crack as it weathers from the elements, large holes can appear too if minor problems are not dealt with early.

Weather is the primary enemy of asphalt because the temperature stresses the material in asphalt. During winter weather water can seep into the semi porous surface causing cracks and holes to form as the water freezes and thaws. If the cracks and holes are not repaired the cracking is compounded as the cycle repeats itself from year to year.  Any spillage of oil and gasoline will further brake down the asphalt.

It is best to make these repairs and apply sealer during the warmer weather. The best conditions for repairing and sealing your asphalt driveway is when the weather remains clear without any rain for a few days and the temperature stays above 50 degrees for at least 24 hours for the sealer to dry. Below are a few tips for how to seal your driveway:

Repairing the cracks:

1. Sweep the area around the crack to remove organic debris and pebbles.

2. Fill the crack with a high quality asphalt patching compound using a caulking gun.

3. Us a trowel to press the asphalt compound into the crack and smooth the surface.

4. If you are not going to seal the whole driveway seal the repaired crack with asphalt sealer. This will create a waterproof barrier and will help bond the crack with the surface.

Repairing Holes:

1. Clean the hole of any debris and sweep the area clean.

2. Fill the hole with gravel leaving a one inch space on top of the gravel for asphalt.

3. Finish filling the hole with asphalt using a tamper to firmly tamp the asphalt to a hard smooth finish.

4. Apply sealer to the surface of the repaired hole.

I recommend that after all the cracks and holes are repaired that you reseal the entire driveway. The repair areas will be masked by the sealer and provide additional protection to any reoccurrences. Under nominal circumstances an asphalt driveway does not have to be resealed every year. However, resealing every two years will extend the life of your driveway. Asphalt patch and material can be purchased at most home supply centers.