I recently had my Tarmac driveway laid, how long should I wait before sealing?
I have put the sealer down too thick and am getting 'mud cracks'.
What temperature is best for sealing asphalt?
How Long Should I Expect The Sealcoat To Last?
What problems is Trowel Patch used for?
How do I remove grass from my driveway cracks?
Is there an easy way to mix the pails?
What tool do I use to seal my driveway?
How long should I wait before applying a second coat?
Why are two thin coats better than one thick coat?
I have spilled sealer on an area that I shouldn't have. What is the best way to clean it up?
My cat/dog has walked through a recently coated driveway... what should I do?
I just finished my first coat and now that it is dry, it is full of squeegee marks. I can tell each pass back and forth. The texture of each pass catches the light differently. Like vacuuming a carpet in different directions. Is there a technique issue? What can I do to change this?
I have just finished my driveway and there are two clearly different shades of black. What has happened / what can I do to fix this?
The Answers
I recently had my Tarmac driveway laid, how long should I wait before sealing?
We recommend waiting at least 6 months prior to sealing to allow the natural distillates to emit from the Tarmac. If your driveway beads up when water is sprayed on it ... your driveway is not ready yet. Applying sealer too soon can result in the sealer failing and not bonding properly.
I have put the sealer down too thick and am getting 'mud cracks'.
Well, #1 we strongly recommend using the proper tool...our 50cm Seal Right Squeegee and bearing down on it while applying as you want to leave a thin coat. Not applying enough pressure (especially on rough pavement) or using the wrong tool can result in putting it down too thick which may result in tracking. What you can do is pour a little water onto the mud cracked area right away and with a push broom work out those thick areas.
What temperature is best for sealing asphalt?
For the sealers to adhere, the asphalt temperature must be 10 degrees C and rising. Typically March through early October are prime sealing days. Though most of us wait until autumn to seal the driveway, you don't have to. Once the temperature starts to get chilly and dip below 10 degrees C at night for an extended period of time (i.e. all night) it is too late to seal, and the sealer will not adhere properly - it may peel. DO NOT APPLY when rain or fog is imminent or likely within 48 hours.
How Long Should I Expect The Sealcoat To Last?
Latexite Sealcoats will dramatically improve the look of an existing driveway for many years. It is quite normal for the material to wear from the top of exposed stone aggregates as these small pieces are generally proud of the surface bitumen binder. They are dense and smooth making it impossible for a coating to form a good mechanical key or penetrate. (This is no different to the original bitumen binder wearing from the top of the aggregates on a brand new tarmac driveway. As the sealcoats are generally weaker than fresh bitumen, the wear will be substantially quicker). Wear from darker aggregates will be less apparent than similar wear from lighter colour aggregates. Generally the aggregates becoming noticeable is not a concern for homeowners as the tarmac area remains dramatically improved from the original and the bitumen binder between the aggregate is protected from further deteroration.
The degree of wear on the tops of the aggregate will be dependent on their size and how much the original bitumen binder has degraded. Greater degradation will increase stone exposure which in turn increases the wearing forces on the tops of the stones. All Tarmac Sealcoats perform best on tarmac which has a fairly smooth and closed surface, constructed from larger, flatter and darker aggregates however, regardless of the type of aggregate or the condition of the original tarmac, Latexite Sealcoats really do bring an area ‘back to black’, camouflage any unsightly stains or reinstatements and will massively transform the overall look and improve the ‘kerb appeal’ of the driveway and parking area of any home or commercial hardstanding.
What problems is Trowel Patch used for?
"Trowel Patch" is used for minor areas of repair. This product is ideal for depressions, cracks, and areas of alligation (rough areas). This product should be applied no thicker than 12mm lifts at a time. Two to three lifts might be necessary to fill troubled areas - make sure each lift has fully set up prior to applying another coat.
How do I remove grass from my driveway cracks?
Pull and/or scrape out the weeds with a screwdriver and clean crack with stiff brush. You may also purchase weed killer at your local garden center but you will have to wait for weeds to die. Another solution, believe it or not, is to put table salt in the cracks... within a couple of days the grass should be gone.
Is there an easy way to mix the pails?
Flip over the pail at least 24 hours prior to using the product. (Carefully inspect the lid to insure it is secure before turning over).
"Batch" or "box" the pails by having an empty bucket there and mixing them all back and forth. This will ensure uniform consistency as sometimes you purchase a pail that may be older or from a different batch.
Latex-ite® now makes it easy for you to mix driveway sealer with it's NEW Driveway Sealer Mix KitTM! It's easy to use, will ensure a consistent batch and it's re-usable! It also works with paint, joint compounds, mortar mix ... you name it. Just wash it off and re-use. Oh, it comes with a patented anti-spill skirt so you stay clean.
What tool do I use to seal my driveway?
The best applicator for a smooth, closed surface driveway is a squeegee. Driveway brushes and rollers are the best option for older, more worn and porous driveways. If there are large voids between the aggregate on your driveway, using a squeegee will fill in these voids, dramatically reducing coverage rates and may lead to the surface cracking, see mud cracks above.
APPLICATION TIP: Apply the sealer using a squeegee in a strip of about one metre wide, and then run over the area with a masonary roller to even out the sealer and prevent pooling in low or rough spots.
If you want to edge the driveway first, you may do so with a paint brush.
How long should I wait before applying a second coat?
We recommend waiting until the first coat is fully dry / cured. It is best to give it 24 hours so that all areas, including the hairline cracks that get filled, are fully dry. If the driveway has been sealed early in the morning and the entire driveway is fully dry, you may put a second coat on later in the day.
Why are two thin coats better than one thick coat?
Applying two coats of Latexite® will dry and cure much better than one thick coat. All Latexite®sealers are water based, which "cure" via evaporation. A thin coat will evaporate much faster than a thick coat will. If you apply one thick coat, you are "locking in" that initial coat and the sealer will hold water which causes tracking.
I have spilled sealer on an area that I shouldn't have. What is the best way to clean it up?
All of our asphalt driveway sealers will wash off with soap and water when the sealer is still wet.
My cat/dog has walked through a recently coated driveway... what should I do?
All Latexite products are non-hazardous. If the sealer is still wet, rinse your pet's paws off immediately using water. If the driveway sealer has dried on their paws it will not track, and it will eventually wear off.
I just finished my first coat and now that it is dry, it is full of squeegee marks. I can tell each pass back and forth. The texture of each pass catches the light differently. Like vacuuming a carpet in different directions. Is there a technique issue? What can I do to change this?
Application marks are common on smooth driveways as the sealer has nothing to grab on to. Below please find a few hints to ensure your second coat comes out better:
- Mix the pails thoroughly. Mixing the pails will thin the product, breaking down the gel feature. A thinner product is easier to squeegee.
- Be sure to break in the squeegee, put a weight on it so the rubber bends and flexes easier.
- Apply early in the morning, when the asphalt temp is cooler. This will prevent the coating from drying too quickly and the product from becoming too thick.
- While applying in a side to side manner, slightly twist the handle lifting up on the outer edge of the squeegee.
I have just finished my driveway and there are two clearly different shades of black. What has happened / what can I do to fix this?
This can be the result of a few things that you should AVOID:
- Starting and stopping.
- Not keeping the bead wet on the asphalt... ie. Don't run a full pail out then start a fresh one. Keep the bead wet as you continue to next pail.
- Different purchases of product. Try and do the entire project at one time.