Is sealcoating your driveway a necessity?
Sealcoating and Striping ServicesIf you look through the web you will find websites generally say the same things, “You need sealcoat to help the beautification of your parking lot, sealcoat helps the longevity of your parking lot, etc.”(our site included) Do these constitute a necessity? Beautification not so much. This just seems to be a benefit of the standard sealcoat and some people believe this is a necessary asset for the look of their business. There are many different sealcoat mixes, some that are not black. So how do you figure our if sealcoat is a good option for you or if you should start sealcoating your drive?
Know Your Options
Is sealcoating a driveway essential? The answer is “ it depends”. It depends on what your goals are as a homeowner or business owner. There are many different types of sealcoat. You can get the standard black seal, commonly called “ blacktop” or you have states like California that have a “white’ish” colored seal called Coolseal. This helps cut down on the heat and claims to help climate change.
Neyra out of Ohio has a couple of different sealcoat options such as the Sunshield , sealcoat that helps do something similar, in that it helps reflect some of the heat instead of all the heat soaking into the ground.
Alabama Most popular Manufactures :
Gemseal
- You can use their navigation to find your closest location.
- They have several Names of seal as well:
- Black Diamond , FED SPEC / FED SPEC HS, PolyTar, and many more.
Sealmaster
- This company is known for their sealcoat but they are also a contractor that provides services.
- They have several Names of seal : MasterSeal ,ColorPave Neutral Concentrate , Liquid Road , and many more.
How Sealcoat Works
Expectations:
(For Example purposes ONLY) Expectations: If you could pay $500 every 2-5 years to maintain your driveway versus having to pay $13,000-$15,000 for a whole redo. Would you consider it worth it to maintain?
Asphalt Driveways generally have a lifespan of 15-20 years but when maintained with sealcoat they have almost double the life if not more. If you do not maintain your asphalt you could see cost come from pot holes, cracks, deteriation spots, water standing which will add to the issues already present, etc.
Never the Same
All sealcoat seems to have a similar objective to help cover the asphalt so it last longer but targeted purpose is different. Like Coolseal and Sunshield some help reflect the heat from sun exposure but there are several other options that help keep more oily substances out. Your geography, your federal and state laws will also help shape what is available to your local service providers. All sealcoat is NOT made the same nor do end users ALL use the same ratios for the mixtures they use.
AGAIN: I ask “ Is sealcoating your driveway a necessary?” yes but only for your particular needs. So you as a homeowner/ business owner has a responsibility to make sure you know what sealcoat your service provider is putting down so you know if it lines up with your NEEDS and goals.
Much of the needs come from what method/mixture/material was available when your driveway was made or when sealcoating your driveway application took place. The base layer(s) and how well it was put together really help determine how long your driveway will last. Sealcoating your driveway is not an end all solution, it is used as a maintenance prevention to help when defects start to show.
If you have more questions about sealcoating your driveway, ask away! Contact Cofield Asphalt Refinishing or comment on our blog. I love hearing what others have experienced in this industry or even customers experience with other contractors!!!
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