Pros & Cons to Asphalt Sealcoating

PROS:

• Sealing an asphalt driveway protects it from multiple forms of damage.
  When you have an asphalt driveway sealed, then it becomes protected from the various weather elements that try to damage it over a year. You will stop cracks and erosion from causing damage that will require future repairs.
• Sealing an asphalt driveway prevents the formation of potholes.
  When you seal asphalt, it is like you’re creating a resistant barrier against the weaknesses that are found in the product after it has been laid to form your driveway.
• Sealing an asphalt driveway improves the curb appeal of a home.
  When you place sealant on the material, then you receive a darker finish. The surface of your driveway will be sleek and smooth, which can improve the curb appeal of your home..
• Sealing an asphalt driveway allows for an efficient run-off of moisture.
  When you install an asphalt driveway which contains sealant, then you are creating a surface which allows for an efficient run-off when moisture hits it. You’ll also discover that there is a level of self-healing which occurs with this product because the sunlight can help to bring the damaged coating or surface back together as it “melts.” You’ll find added help against distortion and flexing because of this quality, which reduces the threat of cracks forming in your driveway.
• Sealing an asphalt driveway can make other chores easier to finish.
  The smooth surface of the treated driveway makes it easier for the shovel to skate across the surface, helping you to move the snow with greater ease. Your snow blower or plow will encounter fewer issues, which will lower the risks of damage occurring.

CONS:

• Sealing an asphalt driveway is a repetitive maintenance chore.
  You must seal your asphalt driveway once every couple of years to maximize the benefit of this surface. The repetitive coatings that get placed on the surface aren’t as expensive as the first layer, but it will still count as an expense of which your budget must be aware.
• Sealing an asphalt driveway requires specific weather conditions.
  The colder temperatures will negatively impact the performance of the sealer. It is not unusual for a sealer to fail when there is the threat of sub-freezing temperatures during the curing process.
• Sealing an asphalt driveway requires a waiting period for the best results.
  You must wait on a newly-installed asphalt driveway to cure correctly before you proceed with this maintenance task. Most driveways need at least six months of curing time before they will be ready to have a sealer applied.
• Sealing an asphalt driveway will not prevent all cracks.
  If your asphalt driveway was not laid correctly, then it will be prone to cracking and pitting issues over the lifetime of the product. You may notice concerns with an uneven surface after the work is complete. Even issues like inadequate mixing or laying a new driveway over a damaged older one can all work to reduce the expected lifespan of the product. Although you can add more flexibility to a driveway by giving it a layer of sealant, you will not prevent damage if the product was improperly installed in the first place.
• Sealing an asphalt driveway will make it become hotter in the summer.
  Cooler color tones tend to reflect heat, which is why white is a popular color to wear during the summer months in the desert. Darker hues will absorb light, which means it will absorb the heat as well when sunshine makes contact with it. The sleek, black color that occurs when a sealing job is complete may add a dramatic visual impact to some properties, but it can also cause the asphalt to become uncomfortably warm in the summer.