This is one of the most talked-about topics in driveway sealer forums. Some people are for it, while others are against it. For us, we support the idea as the best driveway sealer has more benefits than setbacks. So, if you’re wondering whether to seal your driveway or not, we suggest that you do so to prolong its life and beautify your driveway.
But again, we will not decide for you. Instead, we’ve highlighted why you should seal or not seal your driveway. Continue reading to find out.
Why you should seal your driveway
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For Better Durability
The first reason why you should seal your driveway is that it will be protected from the elements. Things like water can damage your concrete. Additionally, excess heat, erosion, and cracks can be a nuisance if you don’t seal your driveway. This is regardless of whether the driveway is made of asphalt or concrete.
If you don’t seal your driveway, the elements may cause quick deterioration. Small cracks can grow into large gaps that will make your driveway look ugly. And if your driveway develops potholes, they may even cause an accident.
Protects Driveway From Harmful Chemicals
If you own a vehicle, you should also seal your driveway. This is because the oil and gas that your car accidentally drops on the driveway will break down the asphalt emulsion. Removing oil stains from the driveway is not a complex task anymore. After some time, the driveway will be out of shape if it’s not protected from these chemicals. But Removing oil stains from the driveway is not a complex task anymore.
Make Your Driveway More Attractive
Another main reason why you should seal your driveway is to make it look lovely. Whether it’s asphalt or concrete driveway, sealing makes it look attractive and aesthetically appealing. Unsealed driveways usually look pale and out of shape. But if you seal it, you will love the dark finish that easily blends with most home decorations.
One of the most underrated reasons for sealing your driveway is that it raises your home value. Hence, if you intend to sell your house, you should seal the driveway aside from doing other home repairs. A clean, lovely, and appealing driveway will exponentially increase the value of your property. So, if you want to sell your home for a few extra dollars, sealing your driveway is one of the tricks.
Smooth & Easy Cleaning
Sealing your driveway also makes cleaning easy. A newly sealed driveway doesn’t have cracks or holes that hide dirt. As a result, it makes cleaning your driveway easy and fast. Hence, before you seal your driveway, you have to repair holes and cracks on the surface.
Last but not least, using the best asphalt sealer makes your driveway smooth. A smooth driveway not only means that it’s safe for driving, but also it makes cleaning easy. This is because you won’t have holes or cracks that hide dust or make scrubbing the driveway to be challenging.
Why you shouldn’t seal your driveway
- One of the most significant challenges of sealing your driveway is that you will have to maintain it regularly. A sealed driveway requires the owner to reseal it at least after every three years. This is because the sealant wears out after some time. When this happens, the driveway will look out of shape.
- On the same note, maintaining a sealed driveway is quite expensive. Not only do you have to seal the driveway, but you also have to make repairs like filling potholes and cracks on the driveway. As a result, you have to set a budget for this as it’s not cheap. That’s why some people prefer installing a concrete driveway that doesn’t need a seal coat as the asphalt driveway.
Related article: How Long it takes to dry the driveway sealer?
What’s the best time to seal the driveway?
Asphalt driveway
If you’ve got a newly installed driveway, you will need at least six months of curing time before sealing it. The ideal time to seal an asphalt driveway is when the weather is warm. This is because the sealant dries faster in warm weather than in cold weather. It will cure, bond, and dry properly at such a time.
Additionally, you should confirm with the weather forecast as you will not only need the sunshine for a day but at least for three days. After applying the sealant, you will have to wait for at least 24 to 48 hours for it to dry appropriately.
The best time to apply sealer on your asphalt driveway is when rain and humidity are fewer. If rain or humidity is high, you may end up doing zero work. But when you apply sealant in the right conditions, you should expect it to last for at least 15 years.
Nonetheless, you will be needed to reseal it every three years so that the asphalt can remain water-resistant. Besides, regular cleaning is important to maximize the benefits of the sealant.
Concrete driveway
Unlike an asphalt driveway, a good concrete driveway sealer can do well even without a sealant. However, this doesn’t mean that you don’t have to seal your concrete driveway. Sealing your concrete driveway also prolongs its durability and makes it look lovelier.
Asphalt driveways perform the best when sealed using an asphalt-based sealer; concrete lasts longer when sealed using a penetrating sealer. Penetrating sealers are usually made up of special resins that penetrate into the concrete and form a unique chemical barrier to oil, water, gasoline, and other substances. There found different concrete sealers on the market, including Stamped concrete sealer, High Gloss concrete sealer, or Tinted concrete sealer for different driveways.
The only challenge with sealing concrete is that you will have to reseal it annually to maintain a fantastic look and last over a long period. However, this shouldn’t be a problem as sealing concrete is much easier than sealing asphalt.
Conclusion
All in all, a driveway sealer is essential and has lots of benefits that it’s credited for. It’s even more critical for people with asphalt driveways than people with concrete driveways. Regardless of the type of driveway you’ve, sealing it will not only make it look beautiful but as well as prolong its life. However, proper care and maintenance will be required.
So, if you’re still wondering if sealing your driveway is necessary or not, the answer is “YES.” It would help if you sealed your driveway frequently to protect it from the elements and have peace of mind. Make sure to select a quality sealer for your concrete or asphalt driveway. Besides, you should reseal it after every 3 to 5 years.
