Homeowner's Guide to Driveway Spray Sealing
Posted on: 23 November 2021
Maintaining an asphalt driveway requires periodic sealant applications. The seal helps prevent damage while also improving the look of the driveway.
Reasons to Seal Your Driveway
There are several reasons to seal your driveway. The first is a simple cosmetic reason. Over time, the colour of the asphalt fades and stains may become visible on the paving. Small cracks and repairs also take away from the aesthetic appeal of the paving. Sealing applies a fresh layer of bitumen, which refreshes the colour and hides small imperfections.
Increased durability is the other reason to seal. A sealant coat protects against moisture and sun damage, thus extending the life of the paving. Further, it seals up small damage so water doesn't make its way into the paving and cause damage.
Signs Your Driveway Needs to Be Sealed
How often a driveway should be sealed varies, depending on the age, usage and exposure of the paving. The following are signs that it's time to seal your driveway:
1. Water absorption: If moisture is soaking into the asphalt instead of beading on top, then the old seal is worn away. You can check after a rainstorm or spray water on the paving to determine if the moisture is soaking in.
2. Patchwork appearance: Re-seal the driveway if multiple repairs have given the driveway a patchwork appearance. Sealing after repairs will also ensure the repairs last a long time.
3. Gravel loss: The bitumen part of the asphalt layer can shrink away from the gravel over time, which leads to loose gravel on the paving surface. A quality seal application will help smooth out the surface and anchor the gravel.
Basic Driveway Sealing Technique
The technique to seal a driveway is quick and simple. It begins with a thorough cleaning to remove surface dirt. Then, your driveway service will perform any needed repairs like crack sealing or the filling in of a pothole. Once these repairs are done curing, the spray seal is applied.
There are two options for spray sealing. The simplest is a spray-on coating of liquid bitumen combined with polymer sealants, which is applied evenly over the pavement. For driveways with harder wear or those that see heavy use, the spray seal application may be layered. A layered application involves laying down a layer of bitumen, followed by a layer of gravel, and topped by the bitumen sealer layer.
Contact a driveway spray sealing service if you would like to learn more about the process.
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