Frequently Asked Questions

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Sealcoating FAQs

  • What is sealcoating and why should I do it?

    Sealcoating is the process of applying a protective black coating to asphalt pavements in order to preserve its integrity. Routine maintenance keeps your driveway protected and aesthetically pleasing. Plus, it saves you money as it will delay deterioration and having to replace the whole driveway.


    Sealcoating is not a one-time structural repair. 

  • How often should I sealcoat my driveway?

    On average, every 2-3 years. The major factors that affect how the sealer wears is traffic flow, UV ray exposure, water flow and settlement, salt, snow plows, and other winter weather conditions.

  • What is the difference between brushing and spraying the sealer?

    Maintain It All hand-brushes every driveway unless otherwise requested. By doing so, we can ensure consistent coverage, higher quality adhesion, and cleaner edges. For textured driveways, the bristles of the broom are especially ideal. We do not use rubber squeegees to apply sealer. Spraying can leave an uneven coating and also overspray gets on other areas of the property and leaves a messy job.

  • What is the difference between water-based and oil-based sealer? Which do we use?

    Nearly all professional sealcoating contractors use water-based sealant. Water-based sealant is a mixture of emulsified asphalt, minerals, latex hardener, water, and sand. Oil-based sealer is petroleum based mixture of asphaltic chemicals. One main problem with oil-based sealer is that you cannot add sand to the mixture for traction which can leave your driveway very slick/slippery.  Oil-based sealer is also high in VOC’s – volatile organic compounds, which pollute the environment.  We only use water-based sealant to provide a safe and environmentally friendly product.

  • Will sealcoating take care of my cracks?

    It depends what you mean by “take care of”. The sealcoating process includes filling cracks larger than ¼” wide. Smaller cracks do not have enough space within them to retain a crack filler. The sealcoat will cover smaller cracks, but the hairline feature of the crack will not disappear. Sealcoating and crack filling will help protect the crack from getting worse, but all cracks and repairs will still be visible.

  • What are alligator cracks?

    Alligator cracks are clusters of cracks in a concentrated area that may resemble the skin of an alligator. In these areas, at least the top layer of asphalt has completely failed. Sealcoating can only help maintain these areas temporarily. At some point, it must be cut out and replaced with new asphalt. Alligator cracks will still be visible after sealcoating.

  • Will low areas be leveled out after sealcoating?

    Sealcoating will not level out depressions similar to how painting a car will not level out dents. If water puddles in one area, it will still puddle there after sealcoating. Asphalt must be cut out and regraded in order to change the pitch.

  • Does sealcoating repair potholes?

    The sealcoating process will not repair severely damaged areas of asphalt such as potholes. If potholes have formed in your driveway, they must be repaired prior to sealcoating. A separate price will be provided in your quote.

  • Do you clean the driveway prior to sealcoating?

    Yes. Our crew will trim all grass edges, use a steel broom to loosen debris, then remove all loose debris with a power blower. Additionally, we also offer driveway power washing to remove algae, moss, ground-in dirt and debris if it is needed.

  • What do I need to do to prepare for sealcoating?

    Upon accepting your quote, there are a few things to remember prior to and on the scheduled date of service:

    • Please remove all vehicles from driveway and inside garages.
    • Please keep garage door open for proper accessibility.
    • Lawn Fertilization should not be applied seven days before or after service.
    • Sprinklers should be off 24 hours prior to service and 48 hours after service.
  • How does rain affect sealcoating?

    When scheduling services in advance, we cannot guarantee the future weather will always cooperate. We will use our best judgement and experience to determine if the weather will affect the coating. The final decision will be made on the day of the scheduled service. Our sealer has fast drying additives which assist in the curing time. As long as the sealer is dry to the touch, rain will not affect the finished product.


    OUR PROMISE:

    Maintain It All stands behind our work 100% and will reseal your driveway or touch up affected areas absolutely free of charge if the weather compromises the work.

  • How long do I have to stay off the driveway after it is completed?

    Upon completion, we recommend to keep vehicles off for a minimum of 48 – 72 hours. You may walk on the driveway after 24 hours. The sealer will take a minimum of 30 days to fully cure and is sensitive to animal droppings, tree droppings, water stains from irrigation systems, ponding water & tire markings during this time. This is normal and no reason to be concerned, it will fade over time.

  • I see tire marks after driving on my newly sealed driveway. Is this normal?

    Yes. Once you start driving on the sealed surface, avoid turning your wheels unless your car is moving. When wheels are turned on freshly sealed area, scuffing and turn marks will be evident. No worries- in time they will blend with surrounding surface. Remember – You are driving a many thousand pound vehicle on a freshly painted surface. No matter how long you keep cars off the driveway, you will get tire marks and scuffs.

  • How do I pay for the service?

    Check: You can pay the crew at the time of service or mail in a check when the job is complete.


    Credit Card: We will email you the invoice the day after the service and you can pay with a credit card online, or you can call in with a credit card payment as well (Visa, Mastercard, American Express)  

  • I have an issue with my service. How should I notify you?

    We strive to provide you with quality workmanship and ensure you are 100% satisfied.  If for some reason you are not satisfied, please take the steps below:


    Email laura.maintainitall@gmail.com with the following information:

    • Name
    • Address
    • Best Contact Number
    • Description of Issue
    • Picture of the area – This will allow us to assess the issue and determine what is needed to properly correct.

    If you do not have an email address, please call us at (855) 610-6100 to discuss. We will respond to your email within the same day to confirm receipt. A manager or the estimator will then call you to discuss the issue. Once a resolution has been determined, we will give you a call. 

Paving FAQs

  • How do I know when to pave my driveway?

    Eventually, every asphalt driveway will deteriorate and fall apart. Normally, this can take anywhere from 10 – 20 years. This depends on how often you maintain and sealcoat. When it is time to pave your driveway, you will notice certain indicators such as severe cracking, sinking/uneven surfaces, potholes, loose and crumbling areas. Patching and filling cracks will always help to postpone paving, but the repairs will always be visible. When you are ready for that brand new look or when maintenance is no longer effective, it’s time to pave.

  • How long will a new asphalt driveway last?

    A new driveway can last 10 – 20 years depending on how it is constructed and how often you sealcoat.

  • How long does it take to pave a driveway?

    Most driveways can be paved in just one day.  Some driveway will take two days if there is significant prep work, excavation or alterations needed.

  • What is an overlay and is it appropriate for my needs?

    A driveway overlay consists of installing a new layer of asphalt on top of your existing driveway. Overlays are best suited for driveways that have standard cracks, minor ruts/depressions and surface damage. We remove a section of the existing driveway along the garage, street, sidewalk and other pavement surfaces to create a proper tie-in. This allows us to pave flush to these surfaces and not leave any tripping hazards. A driveway overlay cannot be installed in certain circumstances where raising the driveway will cause improper water drainage.  A driveway overlay can last 10 – 15 years.

  • What is a full remove and replace?

    A driveway remove and replace consists of fully excavating the existing driveway, repairing the stone base, and paving two new layers of asphalt. In some cases, the existing stone base will need to be replaced as well. The first layer of asphalt is called the base course, which has larger stones and is the foundation for the new driveway. The second layer is called the finish course and has smaller stones which gives a smooth finish. 


    Two layers of asphalt are required to properly pave a long-lasting driveway. A remove and replace is needed when the existing driveway is severely damaged or was not installed properly the first time. A driveway remove and replace can last 15 – 20 years

  • Do you offer a warranty on your paving work?

    Maintain It All has the confidence to stand by its work with one of the strongest warranties available. All new paving work performed comes with a standard 5-year workmanship & material warranty from the date of completion. To qualify for this warranty, the driveway must be sealcoated by Maintain It All within the first 2 years of completion.

  • How long do I stay off my new driveway?

    It depends on what time of year you pave the driveway. New asphalt is a flexible material that can take anywhere from 12-24 months to fully cure. During this time the surface will be susceptible to indentations due to concentrated loads such as bicycle kickstands, chair legs, tables, dumpsters and ladders to name a few. Do not apply concentrated loads during this time. During the first 6 months, vehicle power steering, sharp turns and K-turns can cause ruts and scuff the pavement. If your driveway is paved in March – May or September – December then you should wait 4 days. If your driveway is paved in June – August then you should wait 7 days.

  • How do I maintain my new driveway?

    Your new driveway is a big investment and you want it to last as long as possible. We recommend sealcoating your new driveway in August or September of the following year it was paved. It needs about one year to fully cure. After the initial sealcoat, you should reseal every 2 – 3 years. We will provide you with aftercare instructions once we complete your new driveway.

  • Do you offer financing?

    Yes. A new driveway can be a large investment. Ask about our financing options!

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