What does Asphalt Institute say regarding pavement preservation and maintenance, including timing, distresses, materials, crack sealing, patching, and the various surface treatments options.
Asphalt Institute’s MS-16, Asphalt in Pavement Preservation and Maintenance, is our official publication on these topics.
Should a newly paved driveway or parking lot be sealed (or seal-coated)?
No. A well-designed and constructed low traffic volume pavement, such as a driveway or parking lot, should not require sealing for approximately 2 to 5 years – depending on severity of climate and quality of original work. If a new pavement is porous, meaning it allows water into the pavement rather than shedding, or draining […]
When should a driveway or parking lot be sealed?
Sealing is effective to renew old asphalt surfaces that have become dry and brittle with age, to seal small surface cracks and surface voids, and to inhibit raveling (loss of surface aggregate). So, sealing should be done as soon as any of these distresses are noted.
How should driveways and parking lots be sealed?
A light application of a slow-setting asphalt emulsion diluted with water should be applied. In most cases, a dilution of one part emulsion to one part water is used. SS-1, SS-1h, CSS-1, or CSS-1h asphalt emulsions are typically used. Commercial sealers are also available. Those containing coal-tar compounds are not recommended. The diluted material is […]