Maintaining My Driveway
Driveway maintenance is a very important part of preserving your asphalt surface for the years to come. A properly maintained asphalt driveway can last up to 25 years or longer in certain circumstances. Driveway maintenance is a relatively easy task. First, if you have a new asphalt surface we recommend that you are conscious of the new exposed edges of your asphalt. This is where the asphalt is most susceptible to damage. Back filling with topsoil along exposed edges or using reflector sticks to divert traffic away are the most common methods of protecting these areas in the early part of the driveway’s lifespan. We will be happy to help you with recommendations if exposed edges apply to your driveway. The most important part of prolonging your driveway is to sealcoat your driveway’s surface to protect the integrity of the asphalt.
Sealcoating
There are many different opinions on sealcoating asphalt. As an asphalt contractor, we recommend that you sealcoat your driveway 1-3 years from installation and then every 3 years thereafter. We use only the highest quality sealcoating materials on the market. Below are the benefits of the sealant products we use.
Creates a protective shell that prevents the deterioration of the asphalt binder that holds your driveway’s surface together. Overtime, an unsealed driveway’s binder will deteriorate from the Sun’s UV Rays and other harmful substances like rock salt used in the winter. Sealcoating will protect against this deterioration from happening.
Protection from fuel, oil, and other harmful liquids. Gas, diesel, and oil stains are common in parking areas and will damage the structure of an unsealed driveway. Fuel spills will cause soft spots in the asphalt which require the area to be removed and replaced. Sealcoating will effectively protect against these spills.
Minimizing hair line crack expansion. Cracks in a driveway start as a hairline crack and expand with freezing and thawing overtime. By sealcoating these hair line impurities you are slowing down the deterioration of your driveway and lengthening the lifespan of the asphalt.
New Black Appearance. Sealcoating your driveway also gives you that black appearance that resembles the appearance of new asphalt.
If you have any additional questions regarding the maintenance of your driveway, please give us a call and we would be happy to assist you.