Repairing and Sealing an Asphalt
Driveway
How To Seal Your Driveway
Introduction:
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 against the weather.
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
cracks:
-
Sweep the area around the
crack to remove organic debris and pebbles.
-
Fill the crack with a high
quality asphalt patching compound using a caulking gun.
-
Us a trowel to press the
asphalt compound into the crack and smooth the surface.
-
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:
-
Clean the
hole of any debris and sweep the area clean.
-
Fill the hole with gravel
leaving a one inch space on top of the gravel for asphalt.
-
Finish filling
the hole with asphalt using a tamper to firmly tamp the asphalt to a
hard smooth finish.
-
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.
Related articles:
Brick Paver Walkways
Brick Pavers and Concrete Pavers
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