Did you know that a driveway can be one of the most prominent features of your front yard? We want our home’s curb appeal to make a great first impression and that starts with a well-maintained driveway. A common choice for homeowners, especially in areas with freeze and thaw cycles or snow, is an asphalt driveway.
Asphalt is a mixture of aggregates which includes stone, gravel, sand, and bitumen, a sticky, black, semi-solid form of petroleum material that holds the mixture together. Asphalt is primarily used for construction and paving of roads, parking lots, and walk ways.
Unfortunately, mother nature is tough on asphalt. Although asphalt is more flexible than concrete, asphalt driveways require maintenance every 3-5 years. If your driveway is not draining properly, water gets into the gravel base which produces cracking during freeze and thaw periods. As driveways age and deteriorate, you may see them start to crack or you may have major settling causing pot holes. Another common issue is the alligatoring effect, which is where the glaze from a sealcoat cracks and looks similar to alligator scales or pottery. Luckily, this is simply cosmetic in nature and does not affect the structural integrity of the driveway.
You may need to resurface your driveway if you have:
A group of thin cracks that resemble alligator scales.
A line or split on the surface ranging from simple, minor imperfections from 1/8” to ½” wide to large cracks that involve the base.
Sloping areas or bumps in certain places.
Potholes in the asphalt are holes usually 1”-2” deep or more.
Large puddles of pooling water are caused by bad draining systems that eat away at your driveway and seep into the ground beneath it.
Resurfacing your asphalt driveway means laying a new layer or coat of asphalt over your existing layer. This usually adds 1”-2” of asphalt and corrects structural damage.
Used primarily for preventative measures, sealcoating restores the rich color of new asphalt, protects asphalt from the sun, and fills minor imperfections in the driveway, but doesn’t repair or restructure the driveway.
Pot holes are a safety hazard and are hard on your vehicle.
Homeowners choose asphalt for its esthetic value and resurfacing rejuvenates your driveways appearance.
Resurfacing reinforces your asphalt driveway by repairing cracks and other breaks in the pavement, which improves the overall look and structure of the driveway.
Over-sealing your driveway can result in extensive cracking on the surface. Resurfacing is a good alternative.
Resurfacing prevents deep cracks and depressions that require extensive and expensive repairs.
Remove dirt, debris, algae, and weeds using a garden hoe or shovel. Loosen debris in cracks with a broom. Use a leaf blower or utility broom to further clear off the surface of the driveway.
Once the driveway is free of dirt, algae, and debris, use a cleaning solution and water to scrub the remaining dirt off the driveway. Set for a few minutes then rinse with water using the pressure washer or hose. Allow the driveway to completely dry before making any repairs. This usually takes about 24 hours.
Now that your driveway is clean, it’s time to repair your driveway by filling all cracks and potholes. Narrow cracks can be filled using a crack filler and smoothed out using your putty knife. Potholes can be filled with a pothole patch material. Pour the material into the pothole and spread it flat and smooth with your putty knife or a trowel. Then use a tamper to pound the patch material and flatten it out. Wash oil spots with a degreaser and apply a primer if necessary.
Your resurfacer should be mixed beforehand with a drill and mixing tool or by hand using a wooden stick. Next, use your 3” wide paint brush to apply the resurfacer along all the edges.
Pour the resurfacer in a line across the width of the driveway. Spread this out evenly with the driveway coater brush, and move in a continuous back and forth pattern. Working with the wet edge, at the end of each path make a turn, stop, and re-start in the other direction.
1. Once the whole driveway is coated, stake off the driveway
with string or tape to keep everyone off the surface.
2. Make sure no rain is in the forecast and don’t drive on it for 24 hours.
3. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s directions and recommendations on spread rate or number of coats.
4. It’s helpful to wear old shoes and clothing that you won’t mind throwing away afterward.
5. Work on a cooler day. It will slow the dry time and make sure you have more time to spread the material smoothly.
6. If your asphalt is showing signs of major settling or age, it may be best to contact your local pro first.
With three DIY steps, your driveway will be looking brand new! Be the envy of your neighbors and get your driveway back to tip-top shape. Be sure to check out what you’ll need to resurface your asphalt driveway on doitbest.com, and ship for free to your local Do it Best store!
Henry Driveway Elastomeric Crack Repair Filler - HE305447
.9GL ELASTOMRC CRCK FILL
Item # 115746
Model # HE305447
Free Ship to Store
$13.49
Free Ship to Store
$3.49
Henry Driveway Elastomeric Crack Repair Filler - HE308004
10.1OZ ELASTO CRK REPAIR
Item # 101419
Model # HE308004
Free Ship to Store
$5.49
DSeal Driveway Repair Blacktop Crack Filler Hot Sealant Canister - 50131
HOT SEALANT CANISTER
Item # 100458
Model # 50131
In Store Only
Do it Best Do it Pourable Driveway Crack Sealer - DI910447
.9GL POUR DRWY CRACK SLR
Item # 111953
Model # DI910447
In Store Only
Free Ship to Store
$16.79
Quikrete Quickrete Commercial Grade Permanent Asphalt Repair - 1701-52
50LB BLACKTOP PATCH
Item # 116777
Model # 1701-52
Free Ship to Store
$13.99
Latex-ite Trowel Patch Smooth Asphalt Patch - 32051
2GL TROWEL ASPHALT PATCH
Item # 110337
Model # 32051
Free Ship to Store
$19.99
Free Ship to Store
$17.99
Henry 532 Driveway Asphalt Resurfacer - HE532074
4.75GL ASPHT DRWY RESURF
Item # 110140
Model # HE532074
Free Ship to Store
$33.99
Do it Best Professional Easy-To-Stir Rubberized Driveway Filler And Sealer - DI930074
4.75GL PROF DRVWY CTG
Item # 111945
Model # DI930074
In Store Only
Latex-ite Optimum PRO Driveway Resurfacer - 10852
4.75GL OPT DRVWY RESURF
Item # 110272
Model # 10852
Free Ship to Store
$27.99
Latex-ite Sand Mix Driveway Sealer and Filler - 42801
4.75GL SND MX DRWY FL/SL
Item # 110388
Model # 42801
Free Ship to Store
$18.79
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