How Can You Tell If Your Asphalt Driveway Needs Sealcoating Or Repaving?
As driveways age, they begin to fade, absorb water and develop cracks. If caught early, sealcoating is often enough to protect the asphalt and prevent development of future cracks. Once the driveway progresses to an advanced state of disrepair, repaving is the only real solution. Since sealcoating is something that DIYers can do on their own, and repaving must be done by an asphalt paving contractor, being able to identify which solution your driveway requires can help you get started on the appropriate course of action.
What's the difference between repaving and sealcoating?
Sealcoating is practice of putting a protective layer of liquid emulsion on the surface of your asphalt driveway. Sealcoating plugs the pores of your driveway and prevents exposure to rain, UV rays and chemicals. Sealcoating must be done on a regular basis, every two or three years, to prevent the driveway from deteriorating.
Repaving is the act of removing the old asphalt, laying a new foundation and paving over it with new asphalt.
What are the signs that a driveway needs to be sealcoated?
Driveways that need sealcoating will have faded from their original black color. Rain, oil or gas that spills onto the driveway will be soaked up by the surface of the asphalt without beading up and running off of the side of the driveway. Driveways that need sealcoating might have small, isolated cracks in the pavement.
What are the signs that a driveway needs to be repaved?
Driveways that need to be repaved will have:
- Deep cracks
- Alligator cracking (clusters of connected cracks that give the driveway a pebbled appearance)
- Pot holes
The presence of deep cracks and alligator cracking on the asphalt indicates that water has penetrated the driveway to its base and the foundation has been compromised. Once this happens, there's no way to prevent the formation of future cracks, although patching and repair may prolong the inevitable. In many cases, the only way to prevent the spread of alligator cracks and the further deterioration of the driveway is to dig up the pavement and start over.
How can you prevent your driveway from needing to be repaved?
Sealcoating on a regular basis will prevent water from penetrating the foundation of the driveway. If you sealcoat your driveway every few years, the asphalt may last for a long time.
For more information about how to protect, maintain or replace your driveway, contact a paving company like AFS Construction Services.