Seal Coating in Montgomery, AL

Seal coating is a thin protective coat applied over asphalt. In Montgomery, the long, hot summers bake the surface and dry out the binder that holds the stone together, which turns black asphalt gray and lets stone come loose. Rain then gets into the surface and works down toward the base. A seal coat slows both, resists oil and gas drips and gives the surface an even dark finish.

When to seal

HomeGuide recommends waiting 3 to 6 months after new paving and resealing every 2 to 10 years. Sealer needs dry weather between about 50 and 95 degrees. In central Alabama that means spring and fall are ideal, summer mornings work, and the wettest months need careful scheduling.

Preparation

• Blow and sweep the surface and edges
• Treat oil spots so sealer bonds
• Fill cracks first with hot rubberized filler
• Trim grass back from the edges
• Hand-edge along the slab, walks and curbs
• Apply two coats on most driveways

Product

HomeGuide notes that coal tar sealer has been banned in many areas over health and environmental concerns and that asphalt emulsion is considered more environmentally friendly. We tell you what we plan to use.

Curing

Keep cars off for 12 to 72 hours depending on temperature and humidity. We barricade the area.

Lots

Sealing a lot covers the old striping, so restriping follows. Together, they are the most cost-effective way to refresh an older lot.

What sealing will not fix

Sealer will not fill potholes, level dips or hold together pavement that is breaking apart over a failed base. On a driveway like that, the money is better spent on repairs or replacement. We will tell you if that is the case.

A simple schedule

• Fill cracks every year or two
• Seal every few years once the surface turns gray
• Patch failed areas when they appear
• Restripe lots after each seal

That routine is the cheapest way to keep asphalt going in central Alabama's heat.