Sealing asphalt driveways is the go-to treatment option for tarmacked areas in residential areas. The seals enhance the driveway's ability to withstand heavy traffic and ensure durability over the years. Certainly, a worn-out asphalt driveway is an eyesore and inconvenience for many motorists. They cannot enjoy driving on an uneven surface. Thankfully, there are cost-effective ways of preserving the integrity of your asphalt driveway. Spray sealing is one of them. Here is a comprehensive talk-through of spray sealing for asphalt surfaces to help you gain more insight:
The Preparation Stage
Just like any other building process, spray sealing your asphalt driveway starts with the right preparation. The most essential steps here include:
- Cleaning the surface – the driveway needs to be clean and dirt-free before you start. Remove all the dirt and debris using a stiff wire brush and heavy-duty brooms. Follow this through with a power washer to eliminate unwanted grease, oil and dirt that is clinging on to the surface of the asphalt.
- Trim the edges – if there is grass encroaching towards the asphalt driveway, trim it so that the edges of the grass lie a couple of inches from the driveway. This is critical for ensuring that you seal the driveway completely and keep the driveway from breaking the corners.
Product Alternatives
You have a number of options when it comes to the products you can use to seal your driveway. The alternatives here include:
- Latex polymer – latex polymer seals deliver a thick coating over the asphalt driveway. Latex is a relatively stable emulsion or dispersion of polymer particles in a suitable solvent like water. The top benefit of using a latex polymer seal is that you get a quick dry coating that will allow you to use your driveway in a couple of hours. It also comes with a rubberised system to offer top-notch grip and traction to motorists.
- Coal tar seal coating – coal tar or sprayed tar is a cost-friendly coating option with aromatic hydrocarbons. The coating is thin when compared to latex polymers, which makes it suitable for low-traffic areas. The thin layer could be to your disadvantage because it wears out fast. You should also expect some fumes when laying the coal coating because the contents of this coating are rick with dark tar.
When you place these coatings side by side, your best bet is the latex coating because it delivers better results overall.
Reach out to a professional for more information about driveway spray sealing.
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