How often should I seal coat my asphalt driveway? I just moved a month ago and I’ve seen a couple of my neighbors do theirs. My driveway is in relatively good shape but I have no idea how recently it was sealed.
Thanks
I’ve been told resealing asphalt driveways does nothing to extend the life of the driveway. Simply makes I pretty. 
But what do I know, I’m just a retired union thug that welded stainless for a living! 
It will be interesting to see what you get for responses to your question.
When I worked for an asphalt company, the supervisor always chucked when somebody wanted a bid to seal coat their driveway.
Putting down just the black emulsion does very little to protect the asphalt. It makes it look freshly “painted”, that’s about it.
Unless you cover it with some type of aggregate, like granite or limestone chips, then roll it down, it’s wasting your money. When you see the State/County do it, they always cover the emulsion with chips of some type.
He seldom gave them a bid unless it was a big driveway. Our equipment was too big. and if they didn’t like the bid with the chip covering, he wouldn’t do it.
How ever often you want to throw 100 dollar bills out the window. It’s your choice
Just had mine re-done last month. I guess I’m one of the guys that believes it does extend the life of the driveway. When I start picking up rocks and throwing them during snowblowing it told me it was time to have it done. Looking at it now, there’s no way I’ll be blowing rocks out of it the next few years. The asphalt company did a great job filling in the gaps.
Suppose to seal them lol?
Heard both ways in way life, not sure what to believe.
I do it several years apart. When it starts to look shabby.
Dont miss out on the fun doing it yourself! 
when we built a house back in 04, the guy that put in the blacktop driveway said to never coat it – doesn’t really do anything useful and once you start, you have to do it every couple of years. Was told it was for ‘looks only’. Company that put in our new driveway at the new house said the same thing so I’m going with that!
No different than painting your house. Looks good. Much better than never doing it.
No different than painting your house. Looks good. Much better than never doing it.
painting actually serves a purpose beyond aesthetics, it is to protect the wood from the elements so it last longer. Sounds like the paving guys don’t think seal coating protects the pavement and is for looks only….is that true or do they want you replacing your driveway more often???? Each person makes that call for themselves since it is their money they are spending….
It will be interesting to see what you get for responses to your question.
When I worked for an asphalt company, the supervisor always chucked when somebody wanted a bid to seal coat their driveway.
Putting down just the black emulsion does very little to protect the asphalt. It makes it look freshly “painted”, that’s about it.
Unless you cover it with some type of aggregate, like granite or limestone chips, then roll it down, it’s wasting your money. When you see the State/County do it, they always cover the emulsion with chips of some type.
He seldom gave them a bid unless it was a big driveway. Our equipment was too big. and if they didn’t like the bid with the chip covering, he wouldn’t do it.
X2
How often should I seal coat my asphalt driveway? I just moved a month ago and I’ve seen a couple of my neighbors do theirs. My driveway is in relatively good shape but I have no idea how recently it was sealed.
Thanks
It’s usually the wife that makes the decision on subject. If spending a few dollars makes her happy then do it, if your doing it to make it last longer your throwing your money away. Keep the joints sealed though.
I used to seal coat my old driveway before succumbing to putting in a new one. I did it my self for a fraction of the cost. The mid-tier stuff I put on from Menards lasted far longer than those commercial guys stuff. Far less odor too. Far, far cheaper.
New driveway. Company I went with said never seal it. By the way never a regret in replacing it.
One company I passed on (highest bid, thinner, and shorter warranty) tried to sell me a seal coating package for the following year and beyond. Everytime I see that company’s sign in front of a house – I want to yell out … did you bother to take more than one bid ??
Here’s my asphalt driveway chronicle:
Bought our house as a foreclosure in 2008 or so? Driveway was only maybe 50′ long and looked in really rough shape. It took 20 of those buckets to soak in and make it look newish again. Forward to this year and now it takes 4 buckets to keep it looking new. I do it when I see down to the rough topside or when it starts coming up in alot of areas probably every 3 years?
Couple tips:
Don’t hire it out unless you have a massive driveway or got a good recommendation. The stuff they spray that I seen is like spray paint and they wanted $700 for my little driveway.
Don’t buy it in the fall, store it in the garage and slap it on in the spring…..don’t ask me how I know 
It will be interesting to see what you get for responses to your question.
When I worked for an asphalt company, the supervisor always chucked when somebody wanted a bid to seal coat their driveway.
Putting down just the black emulsion does very little to protect the asphalt. It makes it look freshly “painted”, that’s about it.
Unless you cover it with some type of aggregate, like granite or limestone chips, then roll it down, it’s wasting your money. When you see the State/County do it, they always cover the emulsion with chips of some type.
He seldom gave them a bid unless it was a big driveway. Our equipment was too big. and if they didn’t like the bid with the chip covering, he wouldn’t do it.
When the county and state do it, they are doing it to roads that get a million cars on them a year…..i got 2 vehicles, maybe 3 if you count a golf cart. I’ll keep slapping on the black sauce!
I have 2 estimates on it so far. It’s a 3 car wide driveway. Neither of the bids seem outrageous. At my last house I had a new asphalt driveway put in a few years ago and that guy said to seal it about every 3-5 years or when it starts to fade. I just wanted to see what everyone’s thoughts were. If it’s just for looks, I don’t see any purpose. If it actually does provide some protectant, I don’t mind forking over 200 bucks every few years. They gotta make some money too.
So you’re saying that the city, county and state seal coats the roads just to make them look pretty? ooooookay…..
So you’re saying that the city, county and state seal coats the roads just to make them look pretty? ooooookay…..
They are saying they don’t just seal coat them. They also roll pea rock into it. I just do my oil change in the driveway. Pull the plug and let it soak in… 
DT
So you’re saying that the city, county and state seal coats the roads just to make them look pretty? ooooookay…..
The city and state does over lays. Much different. That or seal and fill cracks
I have 2 estimates on it so far. It’s a 3 car wide driveway. Neither of the bids seem outrageous. At my last house I had a new asphalt driveway put in a few years ago and that guy said to seal it about every 3-5 years or when it starts to fade. I just wanted to see what everyone’s thoughts were. If it’s just for looks, I don’t see any purpose. If it actually does provide some protectant, I don’t mind forking over 200 bucks every few years. They gotta make some money too.
Do it your self if you want it done. Little elbow grease and it will look good. That’s it, it’s not a protection for a long living driveway
It’s extremely easy to do. Plan to throw away the shoes you wear. It works best to have someone pour for 2 or 3 people spreading it. Try not to do it on bright, hot, sunny days as it soaks in quicker then if doing it yourself.
The places I’ve done it do it every 3rd year. If it hasn’t ever been done or it’s been a decade plus…it will be more work and need crack filler
How often should I seal coat my asphalt driveway? I just moved a month ago and I’ve seen a couple of my neighbors do theirs. My driveway is in relatively good shape but I have no idea how recently it was sealed.
Thanks
In the same dilemma Gimruis, this last winter was shoveling little stones off the driveway, when spring arrived, driveway looking pretty rough. Have 8 pails of sealer sitting in garage waiting for a good time to put it down. This will be the third time I have done this on my driveway, and, to me anyways, seems to help with the longevity of the asphalt. As with anything, you will always get two opinions, for or against. Recoating seems to work for me, so that’s what I am doing.
As with anything, you will always get two opinions, for or against.
There definitely seems to be differing opinions on this subject. I would like to hear how it goes when you do it Paul, if you don’t mind re-posting. I just moved into this house about a month ago, so I really have no idea if and/or when it was last done. The driveway itself seems to be in pretty good shape right now, and I’d like to keep it that way for as long as possible.
Great timing on this thread Gimruis! We moved not too long ago and our driveway is faded and could use it, plus we got the old “We’re in the neighborhood deal, sign up by the 4th and it’s only $246” brochure dropped off yesterday. Wife wants it done, I said the guys on IDO said it doesn’t do anything but make it look pretty for a couple years…so it will probably be getting done. She spends $246 on a lot sillier things imo 
BigWerm, do you think it does anything other than for “looks?” Or does it have some protective value?
BigWerm, do you think it does anything other than for “looks?” Or does it have some protective value?
I dunno, I defer to these guys that know way more about it. So probably not much protective value, maybe holds it together a little longer.
Of course it has some protective value. My asphalt driveway is 24 years old and looks really good. Its got a couple big cracks but otherwise pretty solid and it looks a LOT better than all the unfinished drives in the hood. If you like your stuff to look good then its worth it. If you dont care about curb appeal then maybe not.
Great timing on this thread Gimruis! We moved not too long ago and our driveway is faded and could use it, plus we got the old “We’re in the neighborhood deal, sign up by the 4th and it’s only $246” brochure dropped off yesterday. Wife wants it done, I said the guys on IDO said it doesn’t do anything but make it look pretty for a couple years…so it will probably be getting done. She spends $246 on a lot sillier things imo
Some people around me use the one that does that and, compared to one I booked myself a few years ago, they do it in about 1/4 of the time with very minimal prep. I didn’t compare real closely but I think mine lasted quite a bit longer before fading too and they did a really thorough job of edging and filling cracks. I bet you can find somewhere with decent reviews that isn’t much more expensive and will do a better job than getting down the thinnest layer as fast as they can.
Of course it has some protective value. My asphalt driveway is 24 years old and looks really good. Its got a couple big cracks but otherwise pretty solid and it looks a LOT better than all the unfinished drives in the hood. If you like your stuff to look good then its worth it. If you dont care about curb appeal then maybe not.
Good to hear. Thanks for the opinion and experience. And yes, I do care about the appearance. Just like I care about the exterior appearance of my house or how my yard looks too. There is some pride about what my property looks like here, but I’m also wondering if a sealant applied every few years provides some longevity to protect the asphalt itself too. Do you do it yourself or do you hire someone to do it?
Is the question of driveways, or of pride?
Both. I think they’re intertwined. I’m interested in people’s real world experiences on this subject. Evidently you don’t think its worth doing based on your experience. I appreciate everyone’s comments on this, yours included.
I’m definitely not interested in doing it every single year. That’s ridiculous.
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