If you've recently had a new asphalt driveway put in, you might be wondering if getting a sealcoat applied is worth it. Your driveway is in excellent shape now, so coating it may not seem necessary. You can't sealcoat a new asphalt driveway right away, but when your contractor says it's time, which could be several months later, you should consider sealcoating carefully. Here's why asphalt needs to be coated for a longer life.
UV Rays Cause Asphalt To Degrade
An asphalt driveway is made of aggregate and binder. When the sun beats down on your driveway all day long during the summer, the UV rays break down the binder in your driveway. This causes your driveway to age faster and degrade. The aggregate can loosen and start to come apart. This makes it easier for cracks and potholes to form.
This deterioration of your driveway is normal. It's to be expected for the sun to take a toll on asphalt, and that's why sealcoating is recommended. The coating covers the driveway so the coating is worn away by sun exposure rather than the binder wearing away.
Cracks And Holes Cause Deterioration To Get Worse
Once potholes and cracks form in the asphalt, they need to be repaired promptly or the damage to your driveway will escalate. That's because rain collects in the holes and cracks and leaks down to the soil base under the asphalt. If the soil base shifts, then cracks get worse and you may need expensive repairs done to the asphalt.
If you have sealcoating applied every few years when it's needed, your driveway has protection from cracks and holes. This reduces the amount of repairs needed and keeps maintenance costs much lower for your driveway. When your driveway is maintained properly with sealcoating, your driveway can have a much longer life. Once cracks and potholes get too bad, your driveway may be too far gone for repairs. When that happens, the driveway may need to be resurfaced or replaced.
Age And Exposure Cause Asphalt To Fade
A sign of problems with your asphalt driveway is when it starts to fade and lose its black color. That means the binder is wearing down. A faded driveway is also unattractive. Sealcoating can fix this fading too. The coating is a rich black material that restores the dark color of the asphalt. The improvement in the appearance of your driveway after sealcoating is reason enough alone to keep up with having the coating applied. However, the main reason to sealcoat the asphalt is so it has a longer life with the need for fewer repairs.
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