A good asphalt maintenance schedule covers all the pitfalls that can happen to your asphalt. Just how often you should maintain your pavement will depend on the type of maintenance. Resealing your asphalt driveway should be done every three to five years. Cleaning is more of an annual task while repairing cracks and potholes comes in on an as-needed basis.
Yes, it’s possible to seal your driveway too much. Whether you have an asphalt or concrete driveway, sealing it every year opens your driveway to potential damage. Sealing an asphalt driveway annually may cause the seal to crack and peel even more. It may even trap oils within the asphalt that can leave you driving on a soft driveway. Avoid sealing your concrete driveway too much to prevent the concrete from cracking. If water enters these cracks, it can freeze, expand, and cause the cracks to worsen.
If the goal is to reduce your lifetime asphalt driveway repair cost, driveway sealers with oil bases tend to last longer because their composition allows them to penetrate deeper into your driveway's asphalt. This provides deeper, longer-lasting protection compared to water-based products that tend to simply sit on the surface of the asphalt. Knowing that you won't have to redo your driveway as often could leave more room in your budget to cover something like the cost of a heated driveway.
Asphalt driveways last anywhere from 15 to 30 years, but if you don’t stay on top of repairs, you may find yourself spending extra to replace your driveway before its typical lifespan. Stay on top of repairing cracks and potholes by routinely inspecting your driveway once or twice a year. It’s a good idea to pressure wash your asphalt driveway at least once a year to keep it clean. Apply a sealer every one to five years, based on your climate.
Oil can permanently stain a concrete driveway if it fully dries or sits for weeks without cleaning. Concrete is porous and absorbs the oil deeper over time. That’s why it’s best to remove an oil stain when it’s wet by applying an absorbent material, sweeping the area, applying dish soap, scrubbing, and then rinsing.
The Spalding, NE homeowners’ guide to driveway sealcoating
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
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