Asphalt Sealer

[juanbenae]

Got a quote to seal my nearly 8K SF of drive and parking area that was a solid 35% higher than what it cost me in 2021! Looking over consumer available products that have reviews that are all over the place for 4.75 gallons that range in price from $40 to $75. Since it was done 4 years ago so product should per info it should cover 400 to 500 SF per bucket since the voids have been previously filled last time.

Have any of you guys done work like this yourself and found a preferred product? I realize prep is very important so will do that accordingly going as far as pressure washing areas before application after dry time and doing it during warm weather.

What ya got for me?

[Evans, Marv]

I've done mine a couple of times. I just get the LatexIte Ultra Shield (I think that's the name) from Home Depot. I use filler on the cracks breforehand and just use a garden hose with a nozzle that puts out a good stream to clean it off. It goes down with a roller. I use about ten to twelve, 4.75 gal. buckets on a driveway (asphalt) about 145 ft. long by approx. 10 to 11 ft. wide, so each bucket covers around 150 s.f. I usually have to (should) do it about every five years or so. I have to do mine this season.

[berettafan]

I was so shocked at the pricing last go around. I actually looked into buying a rig for my truck and doing it as a side gig. As with paving, it is a gypsy industry.

[911 Rod]

Everyone I know that has done the DYI has said never again.

[stevej37]

I have a 210ft U shaped asphalt drive that I was having resealed every third year.
Could have gone longer than 3 years, but the guy was only charging me $180/time.

Two years ago, he called and said the rates had gone up, but I like how it looks after a fresh reseal, so I had him do it again. He charged me $350 the next time.

I also noticed when using the gas leaf blower on it that it had lifted the edge of the coating up from the asphalt in a couple places. (about a foot square)

So I'm guessing that I have too much sealer on it....I'll cut back to every 5 years now.

[berettafan]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

Everyone I know that has done the DYI has said never again.

That is my take after trying the bucket/squeegee method a few years back. Not fun.

[Scott Douglas]

The city just completed doing a slurry coat of the street down the block from us. I'm glad we got a full repaving instead of the slurry. It turned out very bumpy for riding my bike on vs the pavement that was there. It was a mixture of sand and ground up plastic bottles which had been recycled according to the guy I spoke with. I wish they had run a roller over it to smooth it out after it had set. Now, when it's been in the sun a while, people turn their wheels without moving and it tears up the surface. Not at all like asphalt.

[Tobra]

Do you need a different sealant for snow country?

[juanbenae]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Do you need a different sealant for snow country?

Not any special mix. My quad plow has rubber, adjustable wearing level pucks that keep the plow just off the surface as to not scuff or gouge up the finish.

The last guy I used owned his own tank and did paving too but has retired. The guy I'm dealing with now rents a tank and has it filled down in the valley. He is doing this as a side gig from his contracting business. He has done retaining walls and some other electrical work for me. I trust him, but water can be added to the tank of straight oil and usually is but the rate is a concern. The water makes the mix go further and helps in it curing/dry faster.

I'm concerned the over the counter stuff may not be up to the task in that it will come up when folks turn w/o moving. USPS, FedEx & UPS all go up and make a 3 point turn around in the upper area. I'm on a 1st name with the drivers and can ask them to consider this, but my gal will likely forget.....

[Tobra]

How much would a cement pad at the top for turning around cost? Probably way too much

[cabmandone]

I asked a good friend that does this sort of thing if there was any DIY product that is worth a damn. He said "don't waste the money". He's an upfront guy that I'd trust.

[juanbenae]

Originally Posted by Tobra

How much would a cement pad at the top for turning around cost? Probably way too much

The pavement is only about 7 years old & in great shape so removing it for concrete is not money well spent at this point. A neighbor has a concrete slope down to his place and grooved the concrete like you would see on a boat ramp. It's actually counterproductive cause you can't plow the snow out of the grooves, then it freezes and becomes a sheet of ice, in the shade no less. Concrete does hold up better than asphalt with snow chains though.

Originally Posted by cabmandone

I asked a good friend that does this sort of thing if there was any DIY product that is worth a damn. He said "don't waste the money". He's an upfront guy that I'd trust.

Ya, as I mentioned I figured the off the shelf stuff was less effective, especially being susceptible to unraveling in the scuffing turn areas. I read a bunch of product reviews that did not instill a ton of confidence. If it was less SF I might be more willing to give it a try. Thanks for asking your buddy.

[Tobra]

Sounds like this is a pay the man situation

Interesting that ice gets promoted by grooved pavement, makes sense if you think about it I guess

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

Everyone I know that has done the DYI has said never again.

I did mine - 5k sf. Wasn’t that bad. Prep was a pain, but the actual job wasn’t awful. Saved a couple k over having it done for me.
It's been 3 years and it held up just fine. I’ll be redoing it this summer.

[juanbenae]

Originally Posted by Alan A

I did mine - 5k sf. Wasn’t that bad. Prep was a pain, but the actual job wasn’t awful. Saved a couple k over having it done for me.
It's been 3 years and it held up just fine. I’ll be redoing it this summer.

What product did you use, and do you have much in the way of turns? Specific turns that the uninformed will turn while not moving?

[stevej37]

If diy...count on wrecking a pair of pants and shoes.

[juanbenae]

Did some bid shopping and found a guy that was only $300 more than when I had it done 3 years ago. Ended up his wife came to be his helper, and I knew here from the local Liquor store... Gotta love that small town Mayberry stuff.... Watched every bucket go down and brushed in with a very thick spread rate. Very happy with the results and will keep traffic off it for 3-4 days.

Gunna be an expensive few days if that boat purchase goes through later this week.

[peppy]

I have done our parking lot at the restaurant about twice, 35 years ago was the last time. I used a sealer form southern states that had creosote in it and it burnt my ass up. The first time I did it I had no issues with the burning.
I have convinced myself that it's just cosmetic and save the money.

[Scott Douglas]

Originally Posted by juanbenae

Did some bid shopping and found a guy that was only $300 more than when I had it done 3 years ago. Ended up his wife came to be his helper, and I knew here from the local Liquor store... Gotta love that small town Mayberry stuff.... Watched every bucket go down and brushed in with a very thick spread rate. Very happy with the results and will keep traffic off it for 3-4 days.

Gunna be an expensive few days if that boat purchase goes through later this week.

Wow, that looks great!
Is it really as smooth as it looks in the pics?

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

Everyone I know that has done the DYI has said never again.

Let me just say, ‘Never again.’

The cost to have it done was too close to what I paid for materials alone. Guy’s scheduled to do it tomorrow AM.