Driveway Sealcoating in Toms River, NJ

Driveway sealcoating covers asphalt with a thin protective coat that slows oxidation, keeps water from soaking into the surface and restores the dark color. In Toms River, sealcoating is searched more than any other paving service, because sun, salt air and winter freeze-thaw all age blacktop quickly. Sealing does not fix a failing base, so a driveway with spreading cracks or sunken areas needs repairs first.

What the weather does

Toms River averages a January low of about 22 degrees and nearly 24 inches of snow, with close to 50 inches of precipitation a year. Water that gets into an open crack freezes and pries it wider, and plowing and salt wear on edges. In summer, strong sun dries out the asphalt binder until the surface turns gray and stones start to loosen. A sealed surface sheds water and resists that drying.

Crack filling first

Sealcoat is too thin to fill cracks; it just sinks in. We blow out each crack and fill it with a hot-applied rubberized filler that flexes with temperature changes. Wide cracking in a spiderweb pattern is a sign of base failure and gets patched instead.

Preparation

• Blowing and sweeping the surface, edges and joints
• Scraping and priming oil and gas spots so sealer sticks
• Filling cracks and letting the filler set
• Hand-edging along garage slabs, walks and Belgian block
• Keeping sealer off pavers, concrete and siding

Timing

HomeGuide recommends waiting 3 to 6 months after new paving before the first coat and resealing every 2 to 10 years depending on product and climate. Sealer needs dry weather between about 50 and 95 degrees, and cars stay off for 12 to 72 hours. In Toms River, late spring and early fall usually work best, and we watch the forecast for coastal storms.

Sealer types

HomeGuide notes that coal tar sealers resist fuel stains but have been banned in many places over health and environmental concerns, while asphalt emulsion sealers are considered more environmentally friendly but stain more easily from gas and oil. We tell you which product we will use before the job.

55-plus and HOA communities

In adult communities and HOAs, driveways are often sealed on a schedule or all at once on a street. We can work with the association on dates and notices so residents know when to move cars.

Signs it is time

• The surface has turned gray
• Small stones are loosening on top
• Water soaks in instead of beading
• Hairline cracks are appearing