It's time for me to seal my driveway. 4 years ago I used a company seal for me but decided this time to DIY. Any BITOGers have any products they recommend using?
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Driveway sealers
- Thread starter Brett Miller
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Asphalt or concrete?
one of the ONLY things I outsource. You will have to throw out ur shoes and shorts by the time ur done. And I can get a decent job done here for about $80 by a neighbors kid who has had a sealing biz for several years.
One of the local paving outfits is running radio ads lately talking about how harmful it is to seal asphalt driveways as it seals in harmful moisture and doesn't let the driveway breathe properly. They only recommend you seal them every 5 or 6 years.
I know nothing about the subject but that's the first time I had ever heard that one.
I know nothing about the subject but that's the first time I had ever heard that one.
I used to work for a company that did this. I worked summers while I was in college and have sealed many driveways. My advice would be to have it done professionally. We would drive by the DIY jobs and you could definately see the difference. Doing it properly takes more prepwork than most people are willing to do, ie. trimming back all the edge grass, cleaning the asphalt, priming any oil stains and filling cracks with special filler.
We would recommend sealing every 2-3 years depending on the amount of wear and tear on the asphalt. If you do it too often it will build up and flake off.
Not sealing to allow the asphalt to 'breath' only applies to freshly paved asphalt. After it cures it's not going to breath any more and you want to seal it to prevent moisture to get into it, freeze and then crack it.
We would recommend sealing every 2-3 years depending on the amount of wear and tear on the asphalt. If you do it too often it will build up and flake off.
Not sealing to allow the asphalt to 'breath' only applies to freshly paved asphalt. After it cures it's not going to breath any more and you want to seal it to prevent moisture to get into it, freeze and then crack it.
what about moisture coming from below not being able to evaporate?
Originally Posted By: Brett Miller
Any BITOGers have any products they recommend using?
For concrete, Armor All. Don't believe me? Spray a 12x12 inch square and then comeback the next day and hose down your driveway with water. You'll see.
Any BITOGers have any products they recommend using?
For concrete, Armor All. Don't believe me? Spray a 12x12 inch square and then comeback the next day and hose down your driveway with water. You'll see.
It's asphalt. I'm also trying to determine of latex or oil based sealers are the way to go.
Originally Posted By: oilyriser
what about moisture coming from below not being able to evaporate?
If it was poorly installed originally without proper drainage it's only a (short) matter of time till it disintegrates (especially in Canada's hard freeze winters) any way. Do you think a thin layer of any sealer is gonna keep moisture from coming through? Ever tried to patch a basement wall seep from the inside?
Bob
what about moisture coming from below not being able to evaporate?
If it was poorly installed originally without proper drainage it's only a (short) matter of time till it disintegrates (especially in Canada's hard freeze winters) any way. Do you think a thin layer of any sealer is gonna keep moisture from coming through? Ever tried to patch a basement wall seep from the inside?
Bob
I did it myself when I lived in NY. I would suggest having it hired out. I used some high quality stuff (name escapes me) and it looked good when I was done. However, it was a lot of work for one person and it's messy.
i think this is a different kind of sealing, but my wife tells me in australia you used to be able, if you lived on a dirt road in the bush, to get the road sealed for free with bitumen for about 1km if your kids had asthma. she remembers it because her brother had asthma and they were thinking about asking council about it. never happennded, and to this day the FIL farmhouse gathers cm's of dust on top of the cupboards...
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I'm going to try this:
http://www.gardner-gibson.com/linedetails.aspx?id=70
I can save about $100 for 2 hours work.
http://www.gardner-gibson.com/linedetails.aspx?id=70
I can save about $100 for 2 hours work.
Originally Posted By: Brett Miller
It's asphalt. I'm also trying to determine of latex or oil based sealers are the way to go.
Although an oil based sealer is better it is also hard on vinyl flooring products. The oil transfered from your shoes from walking on the driveway with the oil based sealers over time yellows and then destroys vinyl flooring. In fact if there was a warranty issue with a vinyl floor product and it is found that the driveway is black-top that is the first thing they point too. The latex products don't do this.
Frank D
It's asphalt. I'm also trying to determine of latex or oil based sealers are the way to go.
Although an oil based sealer is better it is also hard on vinyl flooring products. The oil transfered from your shoes from walking on the driveway with the oil based sealers over time yellows and then destroys vinyl flooring. In fact if there was a warranty issue with a vinyl floor product and it is found that the driveway is black-top that is the first thing they point too. The latex products don't do this.
Frank D
I had read oil is better but I can't find it locally.
Its been a while since I last sealed my driveway. Home Depot and Lowes did carry it (oil based), although it could now be an EPA issue with the petro based sealers, but I am not certain about that.
Frank D
Frank D
Thanks Frank. I've online checked HD and Lowes online. I'll make a trip to them today to check it out.
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