Frequently Asked Questions

What Seal Coat Does?
• Enhances the look of asphalt
• Helps resists gas and oil spots
• Increases the life of pavement
• Prevents surface raveling
• Protects as it beautifies
• Slows water penetration

Q: Do I need to do anything to prepare for my driveway or parking lot to be seal coated?
A: Please do not fertilize for a week prior to our visit, fertilizer will discolor the sealer, turn off automatic lawn sprinklers, do not wash cars or water plants on driveway in the 24 hours prior to seal coating, just be sure that all cars, toys, grill etc. Make sure all pets are secured away from work areas.

Q: When is the best time of the year to seal my drive way or commercial parking lot.
A: Allweather Sealcoating starts the sealing season on April 1st till the end of October (give or take a couple of weeks). The outside temperature most be above 50 degrees and warming with no freezing or frost at nights. WE TRY TO DISCOURAGE SEALCOATING IN HEAVY SHADE AREAS IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS OF OCTOBER

Q: How long does sealer have to be down before rain will damage it?
A: 80 degrees, low humidity, and direct sun it takes 3 hours or less, more humidity or shaded areas the longer it takes.  In the cooler months it could take as long as 8 hrs. to dry in shaded areas.

Q: Will leaves stick to the seal coating?
A: This is the most asked question in the fall, leaves may slightly or not stick because of our heavy sealcoat, wind usually blows them away when the sealcoat dries.

Q: My driveway (or parking lot) is brand new. Should it be sealed? If so, when?
A: It is recommended to newly asphalted surface should be sealed within the first year, but not sooner than 90 days.

Q: Can sealer fill-in dips and depressions left in the asphalt?
A: NO. If sealer is put on too thick it will never completely harden to produce the highest level of protection.

Why sealcoat asphalt?
Asphalt driveways are made up of stones, fine sand and asphalt binder. The binder acts as the glue to hold all these aggregates together and provides the pavement with the rich black color, overtime, the binder begins to oxidize with the exposure to sun, rain, snow and other elements, this is shown by the pavement color fading to gray.  As the asphalt oxidizes it becomes less flexible and cracks, combine this deterioration with exposure to harmful chemicals like motor oil or household chemicals, your driveway doesn’t stand a chance.

What if I have cracks on my driveway?
Cracks will let moisture and harmful chemicals to seep into the pavement’s base and ruin your driveway.  As moisture expands and freezes, the pavement will break and the driveway will fail. To prevent this we apply a mineral filled polymer modified trowel grade crack sealants, on commercial lots we use hot poured asphalt crack sealant

What if I have oil stains on my driveway?
We apply an oil spot primer which is brushed on to the stains to prevent it from eating through the new layer of sealcoat. Unfortunately, not all stains can be removed, but this primer usually eliminates normal oil stains

How is the sealcoat applied?
All Weather Sealcoating uses squeegee brushes and spray application on all jobs, small brushes are used to trim edges before its sprayed. A sprayed application of a sanded emulsion goes on thicker, provides a more uniform look and wears evenly over time.

Why is sand added to the sealer?
Sand is used for traction, skid resistance and also provide a uniform texture to the surface, sealcoating with sand wear longer and its much safer to walk and drive on.

Will sealcoating stop grass from growing thru my driveway?
No, sealcoat does not stop any grass or vegetation from growing thru asphalt. We recommend that the customer inspect and control all vegetation prior to sealing by using chemicals like round-up.

Aren’t all brands of sealer the same?
All brands of pavement sealer are not equal. Even if several contractor use the same product, everyone mixes the product to their advantage. All Weather Sealcoating follows the manufacturer’s specifications.

How long does it take to seal a driveway?
It depends on cleaning and repairs. The average driveway is 1000 sq.ft., with no repairs it can be done in under 1 hour.

How long do I need to stay off of the driveway?
In full sun, you can walk on it in a few hours but you can not drive on it for 24 hours. In the spring and fall, 48 hours is recommended.  The driveway surface dries in 24 hours but takes 30 days to cure. It is suggested that you avoid harsh chemicals at all times.

How often should I seal my driveway? 
Every two to three years is recommended.