Driveway Sealcoating in West Des Moines, IA

Driveway sealcoating puts a thin layer of protective sealer on top of asphalt. Sun breaks down the binder that holds asphalt together, turning a new black driveway gray and brittle; salt, gasoline and oil soften it; and water seeps into the surface and freezes. A sealcoat takes that wear instead of the asphalt. HomeGuide lists driveway sealing at about $1 to $2 per square foot, or $400 to $800 for a typical 400-square-foot two-car driveway.

What sealing will not do

Sealer does not bridge wide cracks, raise sunken areas or fix failed base. Applied over alligator cracking, it just makes the damage black. Cracks are filled first and failed spots patched, so the sealer protects sound asphalt.

Timing

• New asphalt: wait three to six months, usually until the next season
• Afterward: every few years, more often for busy lots
• Weather: dry, roughly 50 to 95 degrees, no rain for a day

Around the metro that means late May through mid-September for most sealing.

How we apply it

We edge grass back, blow and sweep the surface, prime oil stains, and fill cracks. The sealer goes on in one or two coats, cut in by hand along the garage, walks and lawn. We block the driveway off and tell you when to walk and drive on it, typically 12 to 72 hours depending on weather.

Sealer choice

We use asphalt emulsion sealer. HomeGuide notes coal tar sealers are banned in many areas, and we do not use them.

Neighborhood scheduling

HOAs and neighbors sometimes schedule sealing for a whole street at once. That keeps mobilization costs down and the neighborhood consistent. We can price multiple driveways together.

Signs it is time

• The surface has faded from black to gray
• Small stones are loosening on top
• Rain soaks in instead of running off
• Hairline cracks are appearing
• Oil spots have softened the surface where cars park

Any of these means the protective binder on top is wearing away. Sealing now costs a fraction of resurfacing later.

Avoiding tracking

Fresh sealer can be tracked into garages on shoes and tires. We block driveways off, and we ask that sprinklers be turned off for a day so water does not hit the surface before it cures.