Last week we recommended that you wait 1 year before sealing your brand new driveway to not interfere or potentially void your 1 year warranty provided by the installer. That being said, you may still be wondering “how do I know when my asphalt is ready to be sealed?”
The number one fool proof way to tell if your pavement is ready to be sealed is to fill a five gallon bucket full of water and pour it over the surface of your driveway. In a bowling like move cascading the water quickly over the surface in a large fan pattern. Does the water lay flat and become absorbed by the pavement or does it bead off and run down the driveway? If the water lays flat and is absorbed into the surface it is more then likely ready to be sealed. If the water beads up and remains raised on the driveway or you see rainbow like colors in the water similar to when gas and water mix then it is to soon to be sealed. The oils are still to present in the asphalt which could have a direct negative effect if sealer were to be applied.
Sealer applied to pavement to soon can usually do more harm then good. Often you will run into adhesion problems, improper or uneven coverage, and worse case could potentially soften the pavement or cause areas to become loose.
Next week we will talk about some of the factors that speed up or prolong the readiness of your pavement in regards to your driveways first sealing.
