Should You Seal Coat Your Driveway Yourself?
Sealcoating helps protect your driveway and, even better, it can help restore some of its former aesthetic appeal. Sealcoating an older driveway can help revitalize the appearance of your home, increasing its curb appeal and helping the rest of your landscaping pop. This job is a common do-it-yourself task for homeowners, but that may not always be the best approach.
If you're thinking about applying a sealcoat to your driveway yourself, you should first look at these three reasons why hiring a professional may be a much better option.
1. Better Final Results
While sealcoating offers practical benefits such as UV protection, it's also a job with many cosmetic advantages. Sealcoating your driveway is a lot like painting or installing new siding on your house. These jobs help protect your investment, but they also improve its appearance. As a result, you want your sealcoating to look as good as possible once you're finished.
Achieving a smooth and even appearance for your driveway is more challenging than it may appear. Minor imperfections will remain on the final surface, adding blemishes that can mar the appearance of your driveway after you finish. Correcting these problems can be time-consuming and may require you to spend more money on additional products.
2. Better Preparation
Did you know that you'll often determine the final result of your sealcoating before you even begin applying sealer? Getting your driveway looking good requires substantial preparation. In most cases, these initial steps include removing weedings, clearing away debris, and ensuring that the driveway looks as good as possible before adding sealer.
Leaving debris on the driveway can prevent the sealer from bonding, creating blemishes and reducing its lifespan. Significant damage, such as deep potholes or cracks, may also need patching before the sealing process can begin. Professionals can recognize these problematic areas and recommend options for repairing them before you begin.
3. Better Product Choices
There are many options for sealing asphalt and filling cracks. Choosing the right one means considering factors such as your climate, the age of your driveway, and your goals. Professionals are familiar with these products and understand the appropriate applications for each one. Part of the initial process will involve discussing your goals with your paving contractor to determine the best fit for your needs.
While asphalt sealing isn't beyond the capabilities of the average homeowner, achieving a final result that's attractive, long-lasting, and cost-effective is far more challenging than it may seem. If you want to protect the value of your driveway, working with a professional is often the best option to achieve durable and attractive results.
