Repairing Your Driveway? Here's Why You Should Finish by Sealcoating
Posted on: 13 October 2017
You probably don't think much about your driveway, but the truth is that it takes a lot of strain. For starters, there's the fact that thousands of pounds of vehicle are going to be moving over it all the time, and then there's the constant wear caused by everything from frost to sunshine.
So your driveway is going to need to be repaired at some point. There's little you can do about that, but you can increase the time between this repair and the next one by having sealcoating applied after repairs are completed.
Here are just a few reasons why.
Sealcoating Protects Against Cracks
When sealcoating is applied to a driveway, a thin coating mixture covers the whole area. This won't cure any existing issues, but it's a great idea when the driveway has just been repaired because it prevents cracks from forming. And if there are any small flaws, sealcoating will cover them and prevent them from turning into bigger ones.
Sealcoating Improves a Driveway's Appearance
Sealcoating leaves a smoother surface than the regular porous surface of driveways. This means that dirt and dust cannot build up as easily across it, and mould or moss will find it much harder to gain a foothold. When there is dirt, dust, or other debris across the surface, the smoother surface will be easier to sweep clean. Additionally, sealcoating provides general protection from the elements, including the fading often caused by UV rays.
Sealcoating Prevents Water Damage
With the surface of your driveway sealed, any moisture will have a very hard time penetrating through to the sublevel to do any damage. In fact, sealcoating will even hasten the melting of snow and ice; when left to thaw naturally, they can place undue stress on your driveway, as well as making it much tougher to use safely.
Sealcoating Prevents Oxidation
Driveways offer poor resistance to UV rays and sunlight. If you use asphalt, oxidization – an exposure to air and sun – will cause the breakdown of key oils. When too much of the oil is allowed to oxidize out of the driveway, it becomes brittle and thus vulnerable to cracking. Sealcoating helps prevent that from happening.
Sealcoating might not seem necessary – in fact, it might seem like an unnecessary expense. However, it can improve the appearance of your driveway while making it likely to last years longer, so it's a step that should pay for itself in more ways than one.
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