Laying Down the Pavement

3 Signs It Is Time to Seal Coat Your Asphalt Driveway

6 September 2022 by Clifton Sullivan

Sealing your asphalt is an important part of protecting it from damage and ensuring you get the maximum lifespan out of it. While your asphalt should have been sealed shortly after your driveway was first installed, this original seal will wear off over time and need to be replaced. The problem is that the seal on each driveway will wear thin at different intervals as a result of many different factors such as traffic volume, weather exposure, and quality of materials. Consequently, it is not possible to effectively schedule your asphalt sealing based on time alone. Thankfully, there are some signs you can count on to tell you when it is time to have your driveway seal coated. You can learn more about these signs below.

#1: Your Asphalt Has Taken On A Gray Tone

Typically an asphalt driveway will be dark black in color. However, over time these driveways will begin to take on a faded gray tone. This is the result of the seal coat wearing off and the underlying asphalt being exposed directly to UV rays. While this change in color is not necessarily a problem by itself, leaving your driveway unsealed can result in far more serious damage. Consequently, if you have noticed the color of your asphalt driveway beginning to fade, now is the best time to contact a paving contractor to have your driveway seal coated. 

#2: There Are Cracks In Your Driveway That Look Like Alligator Skin

Direct impact and age can both result in cracks in your asphalt driveway which will need to be repaired. However, these types of cracks do not normally point to an issue with your seal coat. When looking for evidence that your asphalt needs sealing, you will want to look for cracks that have a pattern that closely resemble the look of alligator or reptile skin. In the paving industry, these types of cracks are often called alligator cracks because of their unique pattern. If you notice this type of cracking on your driveway, it is time to have it sealed. 

#3: There Are Dark Stains On Your Driveway

One of the functions that your driveway's seal coat serves is to prevent moisture from seeping deep into your asphalt. This includes moisture from rain and snow, as well as moisture from things such as oil leaking from your car. If your driveway's seal coat has been compromised, you will begin to notice dark spots or stains where moisture has been allowed to soak into the asphalt. If your driveway is not sealed as quickly as possible after noticing this type of damage, you could find yourself dealing with additional damage as the moisture begins to compromise the strength of your asphalt.

To learn more, contact a local asphalt sealing service.

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