OUR PREMIUM DRIVEWAY PACKAGE

• Apply Degrease - Anti Fungal Agent
• Power Wash Moss, Sediment, Salt
• Power Wash & Detail Belgium Block & Mortar To Original Color
• Brush On Contractor Grade Coal Tar Emulsion Seal W/ FILLER (From 5 Gallon Pails - Mixed on the Premises) for Hair Line Fractures 1/8" or less and BLACK ICE TRACTION (3 YEAR GUARANTEE)
• Return In 30  Days To Seal Patch

       ADD ONS MAY INCLUDE 

Start Late Summer - Early Fall - Before Leaves Fall - Allow Enough Time For Patch Work To Cure Before Sealing..

A hot and for the most part dry summer is  the harbinger of a cool fall with leaves quick to turn bright iridescent and drop sooner than later..

When preparing for fall,  most home owners think about their driveways and feel Fall  is the best time to get ahead of the curve by preparing for the possibility of another torrid winter. 

Here's why:

Whether it's  snow plows,  salt, calcium  or sand,  sealing protects the surface from these winter  deterrents which errode and eat through the asphalt, allowing melt water to seep into newly formed  cracks. Expansion and contraction during  thaw and  freeze cycles causes frost upheaval of  asphalt which when driven over,  creates pot holes and other damge.  Sealing it correctly and with the right products significantly reduces the chances of damage and exposure from auto fluids. 

We are frequently asked; when is the best time to seal our driveway?

Despite the notion that Fall is the best time, it's really when night time temperatures remain above 50F and certainly BEFORE the leaves on the trees fall.  So, if you didn't protect your driveway in the Fall, then  it's ok to make the repairs and seal in the Spring  as long  as the temperature is right.

What  should I know about driveway sealing?

There are basically two types of seal.  Both are coal tar emulsion - water based. Neither  offer a lustre.  Guarantees for the product range anywhere from two to eight years..  

1)  Aquaeous -  liquid like, recommended for new or driveways in excellent condition, not recommended for filling hairline fractures or cracks.

2)  Aquaeous Filler  - liquid like with a fine grade of suspended sand designed to fill in hair line fractures,  provide traction and good footing against black ice. 

Once sealed, will I still see fractures or cracks?

Yes. Your driveway is made from macadam. Because a hair line fracture is smaller than the aggregate found in macadam, we use a liquid solution. Since liquid cannot replicate the shape and size of the aggregate, an outline tracing the fracture will always exist even though the fracture is sealed closed.

Once sealed, will I still get cracks in the future?

Yes. Understanding the origin of fractures is important. Sealing seals the "FRACTURES"... It's a topical esthetic. It's not the holly grail... and doesn't prevent future cracking.. It does however protect the surface against oil, brake fluid and antifreeze from ruining and penetrating in the event of an auto leak.. Heavy vehicles can contribute too.  The earth's mantle is always moving... the ground is always moving... There's always underground water which causes erosion beneath the macadam and that is  why you will always get cracks as the support system becomes compromised each time it rains.. First you will get fractures.. Then, with further ground movement, they will expand to cracks.IfYou may need some kind of curtain above,  left or right of the driveway to steer the water away. This may help to pre empt further erosion beneath the macadam, thereby eliminating future fractures which leads to cracks.

What is the best way to prepare before applying?

1)  A clean surface, free of oil, grease, moss, sediment or crumbling asphalt is pre eminent in order to ensure  there is adhesion to the surface..  Preparation is everything!

There are several methods associated with preparing the surface.

• Leaf blower (ok when the driveway is in full sun all day and no signs of moss, grease)
• Torch -- using propane gas (when there is a weed or two, followed by a leaf blower)  
• Power Washing - Our Preferred Method, uses cleaning - degreasing agents and anti fungals (when there is either grease, oil, moss, algae and Belgium Block..

What is the  cheapest method of application?

For cheapest, there are coupon books in the mail with all kinds of deals.  Be carefull!  The oldest trick in  the book is a extrodinary cheap estimate.  A truck with a large tanker on the back contains  a "pre mix" which means that it's possible that the solution may be  "watered down."  Now that  the law prohibits oil base coal tar emulsions (oil and water doesn't mix),  non scrupulous non licensed contractors  will give you a great price because they're selling you a watered down product, or even motor oil.  It will look great for a little while, but will not hold up.. This is why so many homeowners get caught up in sealing their driveway every year.

What is the best  (or most cost effective)  method of application?

Start out by recognizing that penny wise is pound foolish!  Spending good money every 3 or 4 years  even if it's 20% or 25% more is better than good money at 20% less spent every year. 

Depend on a contractor that brings sealed 5 gallon containers to the job site and mixes the solution on your property to insure you're getting a full concentrated non watered down solution..  Brushing the solution on as opposed to the spray method insures that the seal is deeply seated in the aggregate where protection is needed the most.

Any product that's guaranteed to last 4 years or more will cost more, but doesn't make any sense since the snow plow, snow blower or even the ice pick  could scrape away the most expensive  8 and 10 year seals in the first snow fall!

 Please contact us any time should you have a question or wish to receive a no obligation evaluation. We look forward to hearing from you..