When your asphalt driveway develops cracks, you may be wondering what the repair process is like. The sooner you take action to repair cracks in your driveway, the better. Cracks left unattended for long periods of time can expand when water finds its way into them and freezes, potentially widening the cracks. If your driveway cracks are driving you crazy, read on for what you can expect when you call in a professional team to get the job done.

Stop Cracks in Their Tracks

If the cracks in your driveway are significant in length and depth, they will likely need to be filled before the driveway can be sealed. First, a professional will assess the area to determine which cracks are serious enough to need extra attention. Typically hairline cracks will not need to go through the filling process. For deeper cracks, the process will usually go something like this:

• Cracks are cleaned using a hard bristle brush to get any debris out of the way. 
• A blower is used to clear away any additional dirt. 
• Hot, liquid tar is poured over the crack to fill it.
• The liquid tar is then smoothed down before it cools to create a flat surface.

Sealing the Deal

Once all of the larger cracks in the driveway have been filled and sealed, it’s a good idea to sealcoat the driveway. Sealcoating creates a protective layer on the surface to shield against damaging elements like oil, salt, water and sun. This process will guard against future cracks and will also make the places where the larger cracks were patched less noticeable. If you’d like to have your driveway as ready as possible for the sealcoating procedure, it’s helpful to have the grass along the driveway trimmed and extra clippings blown away prior to starting the process. Once the professionals have arrived to sealcoat your driveway, the process shouldn’t take more than 45 minutes to an hour for driveways of average size.

After the Repair Process

If you’ve had your driveway cracks filled and your driveway sealed, you’ll want to stay completely off of the surface for at least 24 hours to allow the coat to set. Most professional sealcoaters will recommend waiting at least 48 hours before driving over the surface, and even longer before you should park on the driveway for extended periods of time. The typical recommendation for asphalt driveways is to have them sealcoated every 2-4 years to keep them protected and in great shape. In between these treatments, there are several ways you can shield your driveway from damage. These include regular cleaning/pressure washing, not allowing excess water or snow to stand on the driveway for long amounts of time, and parking away from the edges of the driveway when you can help it.

You Can Call Maintain It All

If you’re looking to have cracks in your driveway professionally repaired, or have your driveway sealcoated, Maintain It All has the expertise and the experience to get it done right. Our team of professionals are trained to treat every customer with respect and professionalism, providing top-quality work you can count on. When you’re ready to fix those pesky cracks, contact us and be on your way to a better driveway today!