Are DIY Driveway Repairs Worth It?
If you don’t keep your asphalt driveway well maintained, you could end up cutting its lifespan short by several years. You see, as robust as asphalt is, cracking and potholes are inevitable. To avoid this sort of damage from causing irreversible structural problems, adequate maintenance should be your top priority.
Damage can occur for several reasons, including changing weather conditions and strain caused by heavy loads. But, by sealing your driveway regularly and ensuring all cracks are properly bonded, you can keep it looking great and functioning at its best far into the future.
Driveway Maintenance: A Job for You or the Professionals?
You might be thinking that quality driveway maintenance is best carried out by experienced contractors. However, there are a great many benefits to learning how to do it yourself. First and foremost, you can get the same results as seasoned professionals if you invest in the proper maintenance equipment and take the time to learn the ropes.
If you’re hoping to keep the surface of your driveway smooth and sleek for years to come, it’s very much possible to do so with a DIY approach to sealing asphalt. Don’t worry if you're not quite convinced, though, because there are several other benefits that are sure to sway you.
Is Sealing Your Own Driveway Worth It?
Ideally, you should seal your driveway once every three years to help it retain its structural integrity and stave off any unsightly cracks and holes in the surface. Here’s why it’s worth doing it yourself.
You’ll Save Money
One of the most off-putting parts of opting for professional driveway maintenance is the associated costs. You see, to keep their businesses viable, contractors have to charge additional fees for things like equipment handling and call-outs. This can leave you paying through the nose for a job that doesn’t have to cost you all that much.
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not that expensive to buy driveway sealing equipment. All you’ll need is a tub of professional-grade asphalt emulsion sealant and a crack filler squeegee, which you should be able to find at most hardware stores. Altogether, this shouldn’t cost you more than around $100, unless you have a bigger driveway.
Clearly, a good-quality sealer doesn't have to break the bank. In fact, if you compare that price to the several hundred dollars you might expect to pay for a contractor, it becomes obvious why it’s worth going down the DIY route.
You’ll Save Time
If you procrastinate sealing an asphalt driveway, cracks and similar signs of damage will start to show more frequently. In addition, any cracks that you do come across will need to be filled as soon as possible either with rubberized tar tape or, for bigger cracks, a crack filling machine.
Leave either of these jobs until it’s too late and you could wind up with damage that is much more expensive to sort. And, unfortunately, if you rely on a contractor, you’ll have to work around their schedule, so there’s no telling how long you might have to wait.
You’ll Get Great Results
As long as you follow some simple instructions and use the right equipment, you’re sure to achieve attractive results that can rival even those of professional contractors. In other words, you don’t have to worry about sacrificing quality when you decide to seal a driveway yourself.
Our range of asphalt driveway sealants can all promise smooth, long-lasting finishes that will reinforce the strength of your driveway and make it look as good as new again. Shop around to find a product that will work well for you.
Sealing Your Asphalt Driveway
If you’ve decided to start sealing your own driveway, you have to get the method right. This will help to ensure you achieve even coverage every time.
Before you can start, though, have a good look at your driveway and take note of any substantial cracks or holes in the surface. For the best results possible, you should only seal your driveway once these have been filled. So, look into investing in asphalt crack filling equipment, too, if necessary.
DIY Asphalt Driveway Sealing: The Method
With all obvious signs of disrepair fixed, you can begin sealing the surface of your driveway. So, remove the lid from your sealant, grab your squeegee, and follow these three simple steps.
Mix Your Sealant
Whether you choose an asphalt emulsion sealant or a gilsonite sealer, you will need to mix the product well. Do so following pack instructions for the slickest possible finish.
Apply Your Seal Coat
When applying sealant with a squeegee, simply pour a layer out, take your squeegee, and begin smoothing the sealer out over the asphalt surface. Make sure you use enough pressure to push the product into any hairline cracks or other imperfections. This will help to ensure the end result is even.
It is also possible to apply your sealant with an asphalt sealer sprayer. To do so, simply spray the seal coat by walking slowly across your driveway and spraying the machine steadily from side to side, starting from the top and working your way down.
However, while this is a similarly easy application option, it is far less cost-effective. A good DIY sealcoat sprayer could cost you upwards of $1,000, but the results are unlikely to be significantly better than those you’d achieve with a squeegee.
Allow Enough Time to Fully Dry
You must allow enough time for your driveway’s seal coat to dry before parking or driving on it again. If you don’t, you’ll end up with a patchy, uneven, weakened surface that is more prone to cracks and potholes.
Depending on the weather conditions, it could take anywhere between 24 and 36 hours for your asphalt driveway to be ready to take cars again. However, you can walk on it as soon as it’s dry to the touch, which usually takes between three and five hours.
Do It Yourself Driveway Maintenance: Is It Worth It?
Driveway maintenance products such as high-quality asphalt emulsion sealers are more affordable than ever these days and can save you from having to pay extortionate fees for contractors. Put them to good use once every three years and keep your asphalt surface looking as strong, stable, and aesthetically pleasing as it was when it was first installed.