Investing in asphalt coating and driveway sealing now can save you money down the line. If your asphalt driveway incurs substantial wear and damage, you may need to replace it entirely, which can cost thousands of dollars. Driveway coating, on the other hand, is a fraction of the price, allowing you to extend your driveway or parking lot's life and avoid costly repair expenses.

Like household paint, seal coating products come in various types. Coal tar and asphalt emulsions are the most common sealcoat materials, but due to high PAH levels, coal tar is being phased out. Oil-based and acrylic sealers are also available. Some sealcoating companies still use coal tar, but many have switched to asphalt emulsion sealers due to environmental concerns and local bans. All driveway sealing or parking lot sealer products vary in quality. Big-box stores like Home Depot, Lowe's, and Menards offer different grades of sealcoat products in 5-gallon buckets, graded by their estimated lifespan. However, these estimates rarely hold true because the products are pre-mixed to generic standards. Local sealcoating companies typically purchase concentrates and use specific mixing formulas tailored to their service area or region. It's generally in homeowners' best interest to hire a local, quality sealcoat contractor. Not only does their work usually last longer, but they also have the experience and technical knowledge to identify potential issues and make the proper repairs you may not have noticed, potentially saving you more money in the long run.

Ever wondered what driveway sealcoating is? To safeguard your asphalt driveway or parking lot from damage caused by rain, snow, vehicle fluids, and UV rays, a thin layer of asphalt sealer is applied. This helps maintain your pavement's functionality and aesthetic appeal. If you're still on the fence, here are four compelling reasons to invest in driveway or parking lot sealing this season.

Northern Michigan homeowners know all too well the pesky cracks that form in asphalt after a long winter. Water seeps into the driveway through small fissures, freezes, expands, and damages the surface. When the ice melts, larger cracks emerge, allowing more water to infiltrate and create a cycle of deterioration. Driveway crack sealer (also known as asphalt crack sealer) combined with asphalt coating forms a barrier between asphalt and water, smoothing out existing cracks and minimizing water penetration.