When you make the investment in a new asphalt driveway for your property, you’re adding value that will last for decades. But it’s important to properly care for your new driveway sealcoating if you want to keep it looking and functioning its best for years to come. One of the cardinal rules of asphalt is not to immediately drive on it after sealing. But how long do you have to wait? Let’s dig into this common question.
The Asphalt Sealcoating Process
The process of sealing, known as sealcoating, your asphalt driveway involves several steps, each of which is important to maintaining the integrity and appearance of the asphalt surface:
- Prep the surrounding area
- Clean the existing surface, including priming any oil stains
- Patch small holes and cracks
- Apply a thin primer layer of sealcoat and let dry
- Apply a second, thicker, topcoat layer of sealcoat
- Clean up the edges
- Final quality check
How Long Should You Wait to Drive After Sealing?
There’s a lot of conflicting information out there about how long to wait to drive on an asphalt driveway after it has been sealcoated. Some places will say it’s safe to drive on the sealcoated surface after just 24 hours, but let’s be clear – 24 hours is NOT ENOUGH TIME. In fact, the longer you wait to drive on a newly sealcoated asphalt surface, the better. So we always recommend waiting at least 72 hours before driving anything on a sealcoated surface…not even a bicycle! This gives the sealcoat top layer time to fully dry and cure, giving you the best protection against cracking and other imperfections.
Driveway Sealcoating Top Tips
Now that you know how long to wait after sealcoating before driving on your gorgeous asphalt driveway, here’s our top tips for keeping the surface looking great as long as possible:
- Inspect and clean your driveway at the beginning of each season, and as needed throughout the year. During the inspection, check for raveling, rutting, stains/discoloration, cracks, holes, depressions, standing water, and signs of damage.
- Fix cracks and holes as soon as you notice them – don’t wait! Not into the DIY repairs? Call a local asphalt contractor for assistance.
- Remove stains promptly, especially oil stains. Not only are they unsightly, they actually seep into the asphalt layers and cause integrity issues.
- If you notice standing water on your driveway, even after heavy rain, call an asphalt contractor immediately. Improper drainage can destroy an asphalt surface quickly.
- Sealcoat every 3-5 years, depending on traffic volume. You can do this yourself or use a professional contractor for the best results.
- Hire an asphalt contractor to resurface your driveway every 10 years.
Driveway Sealcoating in the Vancouver Metro
Are you in the southwest Vancouver metro, including Abbottsford, Aberdeen, Gifford, and Kilgard, and need help with asphalt driveway maintenance? Then make your next call to TopWest Asphalt Ltd. at 604-755-0300, email us at info@topwestasphalt.com, or send us a message online. Our expert team can help you with asphalt surface installation and maintenance from start to finish, prolonging the life of your driveway and giving you some much needed peace of mind. From pouring to sealcoating to resurfacing and more, TopWest Asphalt Ltd. has you covered on all your asphalt surface needs.
