Sealing asphalt driveway

I had blacktop at my past 2 houses both fairly large driveways, around 2,200 square feet.

It seemed fairly easy to do without professional help.

My 2 teen aged sons did it without any problem.

Personally, I couldn't tell you about how tough it was, but that's why I had kids! :bigsmile:

Very funny Ghart.....I was one of those teenagers trying to do it once.

Pay someone!!! You'll spend $50 more paying for it than you will buying the materials to do it yourself (Mine is 1,900 sq/ft and it costs $200-250 to have done). I've had mine done several times, each time different people have done it and they all seem to tape off the areas well.

t500hps said:

Very funny Ghart.....I was one of those teenagers trying to do it once.

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: And my four teen age kids have grown into adults and are now making babies so they have the benefit of captive labor for a few years for themselves!

Just as my father did and his father before him! :bigsmile:

ghart said:

: And my four teen age kids have grown into adults and are now making babies so they have the benefit of captive labor for a few years for themselves!

Just as my father did and his father before him! :bigsmile:

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I have 3 boys....currently 6, 9 and 12 years old. Already starting to become my little "slaves" occasionally

t500hps said:

I have 3 boys....currently 6, 9 and 12 years old. Already starting to become my little "slaves" occasionally

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Some advice for you.

Break them in on the power equipment early!

Chain saw, log splitter, snow blower, that sort of thing.

275Boss said:

My asphalt driveway is 2 years old and I think it's time to give it a coat of sealant. Square footage is approx. 1600 sq ft. It seems like it would be easy to do myself and I worry the professionals may get the sealant on things such as my doorstep, garage door, landscaping rocks, etc.

Anyone done this? Is this something better left to the pros?

I heard that waterbased sealants (available from Home Depot, Lowes) will ruin your driveway over time and you should use only oil based. True?

Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks.

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I had my driveway Paved 2 years ago with 2" of binder then 2" of top coat, the Guys that did my driveway told me not to ever seal it, cause it cant breath after that and you will have to seal it ever other year... I am not sealing mine and my father has had the same driveway for 19 years and never sealed his and his next door neighbor is sealing it yearly to keep it together...

I can't justify doing it myself. I payed $280 last year, nice professional job. My driveway is about 100 feet in length by 9' wide, plus a parking area that is approx. 40X40.

As far as them getting it on things it shouldn't be, they only spray it in the wide open areas, the rest of it is put down with a squeegee. (at least, the guys that did mine did).

Re: Re: Sealing asphalt driveway

revx440 said:

I had my driveway Paved 2 years ago with 2" of binder then 2" of top coat, the Guys that did my driveway told me not to ever seal it, cause it cant breath after that and you will have to seal it ever other year... I am not sealing mine and my father has had the same driveway for 19 years and never sealed his and his next door neighbor is sealing it yearly to keep it together...

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I'm confused by this.

My father in law had a driveway laid at a new construction house he bought two years ago. They warned him against NOT getting it sealed at about the two year mark.

I can see why too, with water infiltration in small cracks causing problems and such.

I consider it preventative maintenance. Once thing is for sure, you can tell the difference in my neighborhood as to who has their's sealed and who doesn't.

I always sealed mine and it looked new after 20 years!

I've seen some that were never taken care of and you could lose a VW in the holes! :shocked:

Pay someone do do it it will be cheaper than the materials and time, made that mistake!!!

BONUS: extra day of boating beats a day sealing the driveway :winker:

I had an 11' x 65' apron put on that runs along side my garage last year. I agree with sealing it. There's a downspout that dumps on it and it goes right thru it. It never gets close to running off. In the freeze and thaw cycles, it'll bust up the driveway in a matter of a few years.

Interesting topic, my uncle used to work for a paving company (commercial, and highway) he had his paved over 30 years ago. It is damn near 1/8 mile long, never had any sort of sealent on it, it looks perfect to this day. Still has a black color, although it is greying a bit, but so am I, and the driveway is older than me.

My father on the other hand had his done about 20, to 25 years ago, they did a poor job, and he has to seal to keep cracks, and blisters at bay. Yes, blisters, must be too much tar, cause it blisters, and will squirt when driven, or walked on if not sealed. We do it by hand with a squeegee, and buy the seal from Agway,not sure if it is oil, or water based. Why would they even make a water base seal for blacktop?

my uncles that I mentioned is also about 6, to 8 inches thick, and was the same stuff used on our highways, and they don't seal them.

Be careful of those "spray-on" jobs. They look great for a while but don't last. They dillute the sealant so that they can spray it easily.

I just sealed mine a few weeks ago. I was quoted $580 to have mine done by a VERY reputable asphalt company. I decided to do it myself. The supplies cost me $160, and it took me about 7 hrs. to finish. My driveway is about 120' long.

I'm quite sure I'll hire it out. The paving company that installed my driveway quoted me $400 to seal.

Super 24, mind if I ask what you used? It seems the most common sealant is latex. I'm told you should use oil based??

I used the latex based. It looks good, time will tell how it holds up. It said it's good for 10 yrs. on the bucket. Surely, I don't believe that.

:eek3: How the fak big are your driveways that sealing them costs 100's of dollars? Geez, a couple buckets covered mine before the apron was put on. Now it might take 4.

I hvae to do mine very soon here, was thinking of trying by myself, neighbors just did it.

275Boss said:

I'm quite sure I'll hire it out. The paving company that installed my driveway quoted me $400 to seal.

Super 24, mind if I ask what you used? It seems the most common sealant is latex. I'm told you should use oil based??

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You could do it yourself for about $80. and since your driveway is still fairly new, the sealant goes farther and is very easy to do, all you need is a large squeegee to spread it, just wear some crappy shoes and work clothes, do it in the morning on a good calm day with no rain for 24 hrs and you should be done in about 2 hrs, and you can put the money you saved towards a nice dinner out that night..and still have plenty of leftover cash.

Oh, as far as sealer, I've always used a quality latex based Airport grade sealer, it cleans up with water when fresh, but is tough as nails when it dries.

Don't get anything that leaves a shiny finish, it's too slippery when it's wet and in the winter..