Sealcoating Your Driveway Enhances Its Appearance So Your Driveway Complements Your Landscaping

You can spend a lot of time and money beautifying your property with sod, flowers, and plants, but if your asphalt driveway is faded, your property isn't as beautiful as it could be. You can restore the dark color of your driveway by having a sealcoat applied. Here's how sealcoating improves the appearance of your driveway and a look at how it's done.

Why Asphalt Fades As It Ages

Fading is a natural process for asphalt due to UV exposure. The sun gradually wears down the binder that holds the asphalt together so the white aggregate shows through. The sun not only fades your driveway, but it contributes to a slow deterioration of the asphalt that can lead to cracks and crumbles.

One reason you should have sealcoating applied to your driveway is to slow down the destruction caused by the sun. A sealcoat is a protective layer for the asphalt, and it gives your driveway a dark and pleasing appearance, too.

How Sealcoating Makes Asphalt Darker

Sealcoating is not a new layer of asphalt mix. When new hot asphalt is added to your driveway, that's called resurfacing. Resurfacing makes your driveway look new, but it's a lot more expensive than sealcoating.

A sealcoat is applied like spray paint. It's a thin layer of liquid asphalt or coal tar that is black in color and is sprayed over the surface of your driveway. You may only need to have your driveway resurfaced once, if ever. However, you should probably have a sealcoat applied every few years.

How Asphalt Sealcoating Is Applied

Your driveway has to be cleaned first, and then the sealcoat can be sprayed on. Since it's thin, the coating won't repair or cover cracks. All these repairs have to be done before a sealcoat is applied, and the repaired areas may show through the sealcoat. However, the entire surface of your driveway will have a uniform dark color that makes your driveway look beautifully maintained.

Talk to the asphalt contractor about how often you should have a sealcoat put on your driveway. If you have it applied on a schedule every few years, you can slow the aging of the asphalt and you can keep your driveway a dark color so it enhances the appearance of your property.

It's easy to forget about your driveway, but when you go to great lengths to have beautiful landscaping and keep the exterior of your house painted and in good shape, you don't want your efforts ruined by a faded, ugly driveway. Fortunately, it's easy to give the asphalt a fresh appearance by having a sealcoat applied.

To learn more about sealcoats, contact asphalt contractors offering sealcoating services in your area.

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