If your home's driveway is paved with asphalt, having it sealcoated should be a regular part of your maintenance for it. Without the protection of a sealcoat, there are some advantages that your driveway may be denied.
Limit The Risk Of Water Damage
A sealcoat can be an extremely effective barrier against the threats posed by moisture damage occurring to the asphalt. Over the years, moisture can start to seep into the asphalt's surface. Eventually, this moisture can weaken the interior of the asphalt so that cracks are far more likely to develop. This can be especially important for those in areas that receive heavy snowfall or regular ice accumulation. These substances can expose the asphalt to moisture for days or even weeks.
Improve The Appearance Of The Asphalt
Sealing the asphalt can also help to improve the appearance of your driveway. As time passes, the dark black color of your asphalt can start to fade. The application of an asphalt seal coat will help to restore the color of the asphalt by darkening it and adding a glossy shine. Unfortunately, there are limits to the amount of color restoration that the asphalt sealcoat can provide. In situations where the discoloration is especially severe, restoring the appearance of the driveway may require it to be resurfaced.
Block Harmful Rays Of Sunlight
Moisture is one of the most common and damaging threats that your asphalt will face. However, it is also possible for the sunlight to cause damage to the asphalt pavement as well. This can occur due to the asphalt being bleached by the sun's harmful rays. In addition to bleaching the color of the asphalt, these rays of light can also damage the asphalt by helping to make it more brittle. Most sealcoats are capable of blocking the damaging ultraviolet rays of light that could cause damage. When choosing a sealcoat product for your asphalt driveway, you should review the options to ensure you are selecting one that is capable of providing protection against solar damage.
To protect your home's driveway so that it lasts for many years, sealcoating it can be an effective preventative maintenance step. Without the protection of the sealcoat, there are a number of problems that the asphalt may be far more likely to develop. These can range from a higher chance of suffering water damage to increased cracks and potholes. Reach out to a professional for more information about asphalt sealcoating.