How Often to Seal Your Driveway

Asphalt driveways need sealing every 2 to 3 years to protect against water, UV damage, and the freeze-thaw cycles that crack and crumble unprotected pavement. A new asphalt driveway costs $3,000 to $7,000. A bucket of sealcoat and a weekend afternoon costs $100 to $200 for DIY or $300 to $600 for professional application. Sealing extends the life of your driveway by 5 to 10 years... it's one of the best returns on maintenance money you'll spend. Here's what happens without sealcoat: asphalt is a petroleum-based product, and UV rays from the sun oxidize the binder that holds the aggregate together. You can see this happening when the surface goes from rich black to faded gray. Once the binder breaks down, the surface becomes brittle and small cracks form. Water gets into those cracks, freezes in winter, expands, and makes the cracks bigger. This cycle accelerates year after year until you've got potholes and crumbling edges. Sealcoat creates a protective barrier that blocks UV, repels water, and fills hairline cracks before they grow. Don't seal a brand new driveway... wait at least 6 months to a year after installation so the asphalt has time to fully cure and the oils to evaporate. Sealing too early traps those oils and softens the surface. For application, the driveway needs to be clean and dry. Fill any cracks wider than 1/4 inch with crack filler before sealing... sealcoat isn't thick enough to bridge larger gaps. Two thin coats are better than one thick coat. Apply with a squeegee or brush, working in one direction. Keep traffic off for 24 to 48 hours. The best time to seal is late spring through early fall when temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees and no rain is forecast for 24 hours. Concrete driveways don't need sealcoating, but they benefit from a penetrating concrete sealer every 3 to 5 years to prevent staining and surface erosion.