What’s the one thing that you want most for your driveway? You might say “driveway sealer”. Well, you’re in luck because we have a blog post about how to choose the right driveway sealer for your driveway. We will also answer 11 questions that are important when evaluating a sealant. Here they are:
1. What type of surface does driveway sealer need to stick to?
When it comes to pavement surface, the sealant needs to be a high-performance product that’s designed specifically for asphalt driveway or concrete pavement. In the case of asphalt surfaces, your sealant needs to have a high resistance to UV light and be composed of asphalt emulsion. For concrete, the sealant should have good adhesion properties and offer some flexibility for movement as well. On the other hand, if you have an interlocking pavement surface, the sealant needs to be designed for that type of surface.
2. What is the brand and what percentage of solids does it contain?
Practically speaking, brands are not the most important factors. What’s important is the percentage of solids a sealant contains. A sealant’s percentage of solids can range from 20% to 100%. The more solids, the thicker the product will be which should help it adhere better to your driveway.
The most common types of asphalt emulsion used in sealants are oil-based or water-based. Oil is a little bit easier for concrete surfaces but, on the other hand, water is often considered less expensive because you’ll need fewer gallons per square foot when compared with an oil-based material (though it might take longer).
As mentioned before, if you have interlocking pavement as opposed to slabs then your best bet would be to choose a specific type that’s made specifically for this kind of surface.
3. Does it use silicone or urethane as its primary adhesive agent?
Whether the primary adhesive agent is silicone or urethane is probably the single most important decision you’ll have to make when shopping for a driveway sealer.
Silicone does not require an activator and it has been shown to last longer than urethane-based products, but there are some clear disadvantages as well–primarily that silicone will corrode metal surfaces over time, so if your driveway is made of concrete or pavement with steel mesh reinforcement then you should probably choose something else.
On the other hand, because water-based asphalt emulsion doesn’t need an activator in order to cure properly (and can therefore be applied more quickly) they’re often chosen by professional driveway sealers who don’t work on large expanses of surface area each day.
4. Compare prices based on different sizes (i.e., gallons vs ounces).
On average, sealants range in price from $0.60 to $0.90 per square foot but this will depend on a number of factors including whether you’re purchasing a water-based or an oil-based driveway sealer material and what kind of surface your driveway is made up out of.
The most expensive type that we’ve seen so far was around six dollars per gallon which doesn’t compare too well with some other types that can be purchased for less than three dollars per gallon if bought in bulk quantities.
5. Is there any water-based material in the composition of sealant (i.e., latex)?
The definition of water-based material is a sealant that includes water in its chemical composition.
Water based sealants are made from natural materials including latex and polymers (natural or synthetic) to create a unique polymer blend which helps prevent moisture penetration into concrete surfaces and protects against snowmelt runoff. The most significant benefit of using these types of products is their ability to offer superior protection without harming plants as they will not be harmed by contact with it like oil-based versions do if applied properly! This means you can have beautiful gardens and trees on your property while still protecting your driveway for years to come when used according to manufacturer instructions.
6. What type of surfaces can I use driveway sealer with?
Just as long as it doesn’t have any major cracks that would make applying a coat difficult then you should be able to apply one to just about any surface. However, we wouldn’t really recommend using an oil-based material outside because they tend not to adhere well and they don’t offer much protection against sunlight which can cause accumulated structural damage.
-Oil based driveway sealer will harm plants. The product is water and sun resistant so they can be used on driveways that are in the sunlight for long periods of time without causing any damage to them.
-Most driveway sealers have been tested and approved by many engineering companies, construction contractors, architects and other professionals who specialize in such things so it’s safe for use with just about anything you want to put it on as long as there aren’t major cracks or blemishes where a coat wouldn’t adhere properly. This means you’ll have no problem sealing your driveway if your property has trees planted close by like most do these days since the only thing this material won’t stick to is oil!
7. How long can I use the sealant for?
Even though most driveway sealer products come with an expiry date, a driveway sealer is a product that creates a protective layer on top of your asphalt or concrete drive. This helps to prevent water from seeping into the ground and causing damage, also known as water penetration, which can lead to cracks in the pavement. You may wonder if you need to reapply the sealer every year, but it actually depends on how often you use your driveway. If you only park once or twice per week for an hour at a time, then there’s no need to re-seal. However, if you park more regularly than this (4-6 times per day) then it’s best to re-apply annually; otherwise foot traffic will wear away at the sealer and cause small holes in your surface over time!
As to the expiry date of a driveway sealer, it’s good to know that the sealer will last on your driveway for about five years, but it doesn’t mean you have to reapply every year.
We recommend evaluating a product like Rust-Oleum Driveway and Sidewalk Kit or Blacktop Sealant with Concrete Masonry Acrylic Coating & Lubricant.
8. What are the sealant’s impacts on the environment?
We only have one earth. Is it worth damaging our only planet by using a driveway sealer that has toxic chemicals in it?
Answering this question, most driveway sealing companies take the environment into consideration when manufacturing their products. Most of these sealants are made without any volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can cause health problems and contribute to global warming if they’re released into the atmosphere. As you know, we need our planet to continue living so using non-harmful materials is essential for us all!
Sealant’s impacts on the environment: All available options are VOC free with no harmful side effects.
The last thing anyone should want from their garage door or your driveway is an improperly applied product that will be environmentally hazardous – especially since there aren’t many benefits aside from sealing up the cracks in your driveway.
9. What are the sealant’s impacts on human health?
A driveway can be repaired multiple times. But, not all health-related issues can be fixed. Therefore, when choosing sealants, it is important to consider its impacts on human health.
The ingredients of a driveway sealer product should be safe for people and pets, including children. It should not contain any VOCs as these can have an adverse effect on your family members’ respiratory systems such as asthma or bronchitis. Your driveway will also need to meet the standards of a non-toxic product if you plan on living in it with your loved ones!
10. Does mixing driveway sealer products provide a better sealing effect?
This is actually a good question because driveway sealers are usually made to work on a specific type of surface. For example, asphalt sealant is not compatible with concrete and vice versa. Therefore, if you mix a sealant intended for asphalt with a sealant intended for concrete, the end result might be a very weak sealant that does not perform well on either surface. Moreover, mixing two sealants might create an environmental hazard. For example, if you mix a sealant for rain gutters with one intended for driveways, the product might get into your drinking water or contaminate it in other ways.
11. Does driveway sealer protect against oil spots?
Yes and no. If your driveway is made of asphalt, then a good quality driveway sealer will keep oil stains from penetrating the surface for up to three years after application (depending on how often someone drives their vehicle over it). However, if water penetration is a problem, oil spots will eventually find their way into the surface.
In conclusion, it’s best to use the right type of sealant for your needs, and it is also wise to check with driveway sealing professionals before you make any final decisions!