Patch And Seal Your Asphalt With Ease
Asphalt gets scuffed, stained, marked up, and faded as time goes by. If you have asphalt sidewalks and driveways, you probably appreciate the fact that it is durable and easy to take care of. However, you might not love the way that it looks as it starts to age and looks a little gray and dirty. Additionally, if your asphalt is full of cracks, the surface is going to be look even worse. With cracks, you also have to worry about water damage, tripping hazards, and weed growth. So, it is a very worthwhile investment to patch your asphalt cracks and reseal the surface.
How to Patch Small Cracks
This could actually be a great DIY project as long as you use the right products, and you cracks are too big. In order to patch and reseal asphalt, you need an actual premixed asphalt crack filler and the sealcoat. Both of these products come premixed for convenience. You will obviously need much more sealcoat than crack filler. The crack filler just goes into the damaged areas, but you need to apply the seal coat over the entire surface after the cracks are filled. Some homeowners think that filling the cracks is going to be difficult.
While the work is messy, it really isn't that hard. You use the putty knife to push the crack filler deep into the cracks, making sure that it is dense and tightly packed as possible. You don't want any cavities or air bubbles underneath your patches. Then, use the knife to scrape down the top of the surface, and make sure that the patch is as flat and smooth as possible.
How to Apply the Sealcoat
To properly apply the sealcoat finish, you need a large squeegee broom. You basically pour the sealcoat directly onto the clean asphalt, and then use the broom to spread it around as evenly as possible. This is actually easier than it sounds because the liquid is self leveling. The sealcoat finish dries as a thin layer that doesn't offer that much protection, but it does restore the nice black color that will make your asphalt look nearly brand new (if the patches were properly filled beforehand).
This entire project can be done with DIY methods and a few basic supplies. All in all, it should cost less than $200 to patch and sealcoat a two car driveway. The work can be handled within two short days. Contact a service, like E & H Concrete, for more help.
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