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How to Seal a Driveway
Sealing a driveway extends its life by 5-10 years and costs about $100 in materials vs $400-500 for a pro. The work is mostly cleaning — once it's clean, the actual sealer goes on like paint with a squeegee or spray. A weekend project on a typical 2-car driveway.
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0 of 6 steps completedStep-by-Step Instructions
1 Step 1: Check the weather (no rain for 24 hours)
Step 1: Check the weather (no rain for 24 hours)
Sealer needs 4-8 hours to cure dry to the touch and 24-48 hours to fully bond. Rain within that window washes uncured sealer off the driveway. Temps above 50°F overnight required.
Check forecast — 48 hours of dry weather required
Plan around the weather. Spring and fall are ideal — temperatures in the 60-80°F range. Avoid hot summer (sealer skins too fast) and winter (won't cure).
Surface temp must be 50°F+ overnight
Cool spring days are tricky. Surface temp matters more than air temp; pavement holds cold longer than air. Touch the driveway — if it feels cold, wait.
2 Step 2: Clean the driveway with a pressure washer
Step 2: Clean the driveway with a pressure washer
Sealer won't adhere to dirty surfaces. Pressure-wash the entire driveway, paying extra attention to oil stains. Let dry completely (12-24 hours) before sealing.
Sun Joe SPX3000 pressure washer
Electric, 2030 PSI — plenty for driveway cleaning. ~$150-180.
Rent a pressure washer (Home Depot, $40/day)
Better than owning if you only seal once every 3-5 years. Larger commercial pressure washers (3500 PSI) clean faster.
Krud Kutter Oil Grabber for stubborn oil stains
Pretreat oil stains before pressure-washing. Lifts oil out of the asphalt. ~$10-15.
3 Step 3: Fill cracks (under 1/2 inch) and patch holes
Step 3: Fill cracks (under 1/2 inch) and patch holes
Cracks under 1/2" wide get filled with asphalt crack filler from a caulk-style tube. Larger holes need cold-patch asphalt mix. Let crack filler cure 24 hours before sealing.
Latex-ite Pli-Stix crack filler (rope form)
Stretch into the crack, heat with a torch to melt — bonds permanently. Best for cracks 1/8 to 1/2 inch. ~$25-35.
Liquid asphalt crack filler (squeeze tube)
Easier than the rope form, no torch needed. Less durable but acceptable. ~$8-12 per tube.
Sakrete U.S. cold patch asphalt repair
Bigger holes (1" deep+). Pour in, tamp down with a 2×4. ~$20-25 per 50 lb bag.
4 Step 4: Pick a driveway sealer
Step 4: Pick a driveway sealer
Asphalt-emulsion sealer is the standard — water-based, easy clean-up. Coal-tar sealer is more durable but is being phased out in many states for environmental reasons. Latex-ite makes the most-recommended premium sealer.
Latex-ite Optimum Driveway Sealer, 4.75 gal
Premium asphalt emulsion. Covers 400 sq ft per pail. Lasts 5+ years. ~$30-40 per pail.
Henry 200 Aqua-Brite driveway sealer
Mid-tier. Acrylic emulsion, dries to dark finish. ~$22-30 per pail.
Black Jack Drive-Maxx 1000 sealer
Budget pick. Filler-grade — works but won't last as long. ~$18-22 per pail.
5 Step 5: Apply with a squeegee or sprayer
Step 5: Apply with a squeegee or sprayer
Most homeowners use a squeegee — pour a puddle of sealer, push it across the driveway in a 4-ft wide pass, feathering the edges. Work from the garage outward so you don't trap yourself. Two thin coats beats one thick coat (thin coats cure faster, last longer).
Asphalt driveway squeegee, 24-36 inch
Double-sided — flat for thin first coat, V-grooved for thicker second coat. ~$25-40.
Apply in 4-ft passes from garage outward
Work yourself toward the street so you don't paint yourself in. Use long even strokes, overlap each pass by 6".
Two thin coats, 4-8 hours apart
First coat soaks in; second coat builds the protective film. Skip the second coat and the sealer wears off in 2-3 years.
Tape adjacent surfaces (concrete, garage edge)
Sealer is permanent on concrete and brick. Tape borders with painters tape before pouring.
6 Step 6: Block off the driveway for 24-48 hours
Step 6: Block off the driveway for 24-48 hours
Cars on uncured sealer leave tire prints. Walkable in 4-8 hours; full cure for vehicle traffic in 24-48 hours. Set up cones or rope across the driveway.
Wait 24 hours minimum for foot traffic
Touch a corner — if it doesn't feel sticky, it's walkable. Light foot traffic OK at 12-24 hours in warm weather.
Wait 48 hours for vehicle traffic
Even if it feels dry, full cure takes 48 hours. Driving on it earlier leaves permanent tire marks.
Re-seal every 3-5 years
Sealing every 3-5 years extends asphalt life from 15-20 years to 30+ years. Cheapest possible home maintenance.
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