Sealing a driveway is necessary to restoring the top layer, protecting the driveway from years of vehicle weight and weather. Follow these tips and directions to learn how to do it yourself.
Supplies
Clean the driveway
You’re going to want to clean the driveway as best as you can. Whether its sweeping it off, using a blower to blow off the area, even scrubbing the surface, you can use a soap and a broom or even a power washer. But the idea is that you want to get rid of all the grease and oil and any debris that’s on that surface so that the new seal coating sticks.Fill any Cracks
This is also an opportunity to fill any cracks or divots or holes you might have. There are all kinds of crack fillers and asphalt patches that you can buy at your local Ace to help assist you depending on the work that has to happen.Choosing your Sealer
After that, it’s all about choosing the right sealer for how long you want it to last. It really is one of those areas where you get what you pay for. Now here’s a pro tip, make sure that when you’re applying the sealer, you wear a pair of shoes you really don’t care about. Chances are you’re going to get some of that asphalt sealer on your shoes, and it’ll be very difficult to get it off.Sealing your Driveway
You want to pour that sealer, after you’ve stirred it properly, onto a small area. Then using a squeegee or a broom, you’ll want to almost paint the sealer onto the surface. You’re using the sealer to fill in small gaps and pores and fissures that may be on the surface. You’re going to be working from one end to the other to make sure that you’re moving away from an area so that when your done, you can walk around it and allow it to dry. Now keep in mind, you want to make sure that when you’re doing this it’s a clear day typically above 50 degrees, below 90 degrees if you can, and if you can avoid doing it in direct sunlight that’s certainly a plus. The slower the product dries, the better it sticks to the surface. And once you’re all done and you’re inspecting all your work with the new sealer installed, you want to make sure that it’s not going to rain for at least 24 hours. It’s also a good idea to protect your work by putting up some caution tape or string to keep people off the surface.For more helpful tips and information, visit Ace Hardware's Tips & Advice or stop by a Neighborhood Ace. Published 7/29/21 These “How-To’s” are provided for informational purposes only. The information contained in Ace Hardware’s “how-to” videos and/or articles is intended to provide general guidelines for projects in and outside of your home. Tools, products, materials, techniques, building codes, local regulations are continually changing. Ace Hardware assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained herein and disclaims any liability for the omissions, errors or the outcome of any project. It is the responsibility of the viewer to ensure compliance with all applicable laws, rules, codes and regulations for a project and the product being used. The viewer must always take proper safety precautions and exercise caution when taking on any project or using materials of said project. If you have any questions, concerns or doubts in regards to any element of what is displayed in the videos and/or articles, contact a licensed professional.
