|
| |
Sealing Asphalt
A stable asphalt surface that was properly installed needs only occasional sealing. New drives won't need it for at least a year. Sealer comes in 5-gallon cans, enough to cover about 250 square feet. Older, porous drives will soak up more and newer drives will use less.
Sealing will make grayish, drying asphalt look better and keep out water that causes erosion and cracking. However, don't expect sealing to take the place of resurfacing, which involves topping an old asphalt drive with at least 2 inches of new material. And no coating can rescue a job that consists of a 1- or 2-inch layer of asphalt applied over loose gravel.
To determine whether a blacktop needs resurfacing, pour a bucket of water on it on a hot day while the sun is out. If the surface water evaporates but leaves a dark circle on the blacktop that takes much longer to dry, it means that water has soaked in and resurfacing is needed.
PROJECT BASICS
-
Project: Easy
-
Estimated Project Time: 3 days, including drying time
-
Start Tips: Clean the area and eliminate stains before applying the sealer
-
Safety Tips: Wear work gloves while applying asphalt sealer or detergent
- Recommendation: Do-it-Yourself
TOOLS & MATERIALS
| Garden hose with hose-end sprayer |
Work gloves |
| Pressure washer (optional) |
Cleaner |
| Push broom or squeegee |
Asphalt sealer |
Fig. 1
INSTRUCTIONS
1) Hose down
Wash the surface to improve sealer adhesion. Use a hose, hose-end sprayer with detergent, or a pressure washer. (Fig. 1)
Fig. 2 2) Clean and rinse
To eliminate stains, use full-strength cleaner. For general cleaning, you can dilute most solutions to the ratio of 1 cup of detergent to 1 gallon of water. Older driveways should be washed with about a quart of mixed household cleaner and water per 1,000 square feet of asphalt, and then rinsed. (Fig. 2)
Fig. 3
3) Seal
Most sealers can both fill and coat cracks up to 1/8-in. deep. Spread them with a squeegee or an old push broom. For extra protection, apply two thin coats, allowing 36 hours between applications. (Fig. 3)
| |
|