Whenever you pave your asphalt driveway, you should expect that it will degrade over time and become more susceptible to damage. As asphalt driveways are held together by binders that are slowly degraded over time by the elements and weather it is expected to last you a good twenty years up to thirty years before needing to be repaved due to all the cracks and damage it might have. But, did you know that you can extend your driveway’s lifespan by another ten by having sealcoating layered on top of it?
Sealcoating makes sure that your driveway is protected from these elements by keeping out several degraders of asphalt. These include water, ice, and UV rays that are a constant problem throughout the years and oil which quickly eats away at the binder of your asphalt.
Water
“A river cuts through rock, not because of its power but because of its persistence” -Jim Watkins
Water is one of the enemies of a driveway as it persistently causes a host of problems for any homeowner. Without sealcoating, it slowly eats away at the binding agent of your asphalt driveway or the concrete of your concrete driveway.
Sealcoating creates a protective layer on top of your driveway that keeps water out. This keeps the binding agent of asphalt driveways from degrading and slowly lose its ability to hold the asphalt together while concrete takes longer to degrade in general. Less water flowing directly on your driveway also keeps cracks from appearing due to the flow of water and the debris it carries.
Snow and Ice
Ice and snow that gets into your driveway will eventually thaw, freeze and thaw again as long as the weather shifts throughout the winter. The water will expand and contract as it repeats this cycle, leading to cracks on your driveway. Having your driveway sealcoated makes sure that the inside of your driveway isn’t affected by the thawing of ice and snow. With a sealcoat, less water will get into the cracks and crevices of your driveway leading to less ice and snow during winter.
UV Damage
The sun is another constant threat to the integrity of your asphalt driveway. UV rays from an intense summer day will degrade your driveway faster than water. Sealcoating your driveway keeps UV rays from contacting the more vulnerable driveway underneath it and keep it from causing damage to the driveway.
Oil and Other Motor Products
Oil may seem like a minor slipping inconvenience for most but it can heavily damage your asphalt driveway even more than the other problems. Asphalt is held together by a binder which will react and mix with oil that spills on it. Oil will eventually soften the asphalt and make it easier for your driveway to be damaged. The longer the oil stains stay on the asphalt, the softer it will get and eventually you’ll be able to dig out the asphalt with your fingers. Sealcoating keeps the oil on top of its protective layer. This means that the asphalt will never be able to mix with the oil. It also has the added bonus of making the oil easier to clean up.
