5 Reasons To Sealcoat Your Driveway Today
Sealcoating is an asphalt maintenance task you don't want to overlook. Although it's just a simple treatment of asphalt tar and protective polymers, it provides many benefits that can save you money on repairs later.
1. Easy Cleaning
Small spills, algae, and moss can all leave unsightly stains on an asphalt driveway. Even a child's melted ice cream can result in a stain. A sealcoating creates a protective membrane over the asphalt, so stains don't soak into the paving. You can simply hose off most stains with a spray of water. If you have slightly stubborn stains, then a quick pass over with a deck brush or pressure washer will quickly remove them. This is because the sealcoat prevents stains from bonding with the asphalt.
2. Prevents Graveling
Graveling is when the surface gravel aggregate in the asphalt comes loose, usually because the asphalt holding it in place has shrunk or worn away due to age. A sealcoat applied every few years protects and reconditions the asphalt so it doesn't shrink away from the gravel. Although it's just a thin coating, it also helps re-adhere any gravel aggregate that is becoming loose.
3. Line Repositioning
If you have any lines painted on your driveway, such as from an old driveway basketball court, you may need to repaint or adjust them periodically. Sealcoating is just dark enough to cover up the old lines so that new ones can be painted over in a slightly different pattern. This is also a good alternative to repaving if you want to cover the lines completely and the driveway is in otherwise good shape.
4. Weather Protection
One of the most important reasons to sealcoat is to protect the driveway against weathering. UV rays fade asphalt and dry it out, while moisture can seep into the porous surface and cause cracks and potholes to form. A good sealcoat layer protects against UV radiation and it also makes the driveway moisture-proof. You know it is time to sealcoat if moisture soaks into the asphalt surface instead of beading on top.
5. Damage Camouflage
Small damages can easily be repaired on asphalt. These include filling small cracks and potholes. Yet, the patches are obvious even if the repairs are sound. Sealcoating evens out the color of the asphalt, blending away the appearance of the darker patches. Not only will it protect your drive against future damages, sealcoating will also give the driveway a facelift.
Contact an asphalt sealcoating service to schedule your driveway's treatment today.