bsmith1972
Civil/Environmental
- Apr 28, 2010
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Will the driveway sealer you buy at Lowes really extend the life of a driveway?
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Does commercial driveway sealer really help?
- Thread starter bsmith1972
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Still not much info to go on. A brand and description would be nice, but since you didn't provide, I'll offer some generic comments.
First, if you truly need a sealer for your asphalt, you probably have some poor asphalt. It shouldn't need "sealing"....it is inherently a "sealed" material because of the asphalt cement. However, aggregate raveling at the surface can be partially curtailed by adding an asphalt emulsion sealer as a slurry seal. Sand should then be broadcast into the sealer before the emulsion "breaks" (when most of the water has evaporated leaving the asphalt behind).
Keep in mind that any surface coating or sealer you place on the asphalt will likely be tracked into your house or on other adjacent surfaces!
Filling cracks with an asphalt crack filler is a good idea. Do that if you have cracks that are wide enough to accept a flowable crack filler.
Stay away from elastomeric sealers/fillers...they don't work well long term with asphalt. Stay away from coal tar emulsion sealers...they just paint the surface of the asphalt and have poor wearability. They are commonly used on commercial parking lots to make them look consistent and black. Don't buy into it.
Lowe's has QPR products. The asphalt based ones are OK.
First, if you truly need a sealer for your asphalt, you probably have some poor asphalt. It shouldn't need "sealing"....it is inherently a "sealed" material because of the asphalt cement. However, aggregate raveling at the surface can be partially curtailed by adding an asphalt emulsion sealer as a slurry seal. Sand should then be broadcast into the sealer before the emulsion "breaks" (when most of the water has evaporated leaving the asphalt behind).
Keep in mind that any surface coating or sealer you place on the asphalt will likely be tracked into your house or on other adjacent surfaces!
Filling cracks with an asphalt crack filler is a good idea. Do that if you have cracks that are wide enough to accept a flowable crack filler.
Stay away from elastomeric sealers/fillers...they don't work well long term with asphalt. Stay away from coal tar emulsion sealers...they just paint the surface of the asphalt and have poor wearability. They are commonly used on commercial parking lots to make them look consistent and black. Don't buy into it.
Lowe's has QPR products. The asphalt based ones are OK.
It is not necessary to seal the surface of a newly- constructed asphalt concrete driveway. When the pavement is properly constructed, the driveway should afford many years of service before a thin application of asphalt emulsion driveway sealer containing mineral grit (available at hardware stores) becomes desirable to improve the surface texture and seal small cracks. But, if the pavement is not properly compacted during construction, a surface sealer may be needed within two to four years.
Asphalt driveways will eventually need to be sealed. Asphalt sealers are important to the length of life of your driveway.
Asphalt driveways will eventually need to be sealed. Asphalt sealers are important to the length of life of your driveway.
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