Back in Black

[Farmwithjunk]

Just about scrubbed the hide off my hands. My new boots look like they're 100 years old too. But the driveway is black, slick, and ready for winter.

I caught asphalt sealer on sale at Home Depot. (Only $4.49 per 5 gallon.) I forgot how much time it takes to do 600 feet of 10' wide driveway. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Anyhow..... I use a squeegee to apply sealer. Some cat in line behind me at Homer Despot just about started a riot becouse I wouldn't buy a roller to apply it with. (You know the type. KNOW-IT-ALL X 10)

I can see the logic behind EITHER method, but I PREFER my way.

Todays $64,000 question is, WHICH METHOD DO YOU USE?

(I'm applying a second coat in a few days. MIGHT try the roller again. Haven't used one in years)

 

[RobS]

Got to talking with the ranger at scout camp this past weekend, they did a stretch of road about 800 feet by at least 12 wide. Bought a 55 gallon drum of the stuff and put it in the back of a pickup. Rigged a spigot/hose and used that to put it down. Squeegee to finish. Looked really nice. I hope I get to enjoy this task sometime in the future... we still have gravel /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Well, I gotta admit, PART of my reason for posting on this subject was to boast a bit about FINALLY having a paved drive. The new place we just moved in to has all the comforts that the old place didn't. (Sewers instead of septic tank, paved drive, garbage pick-up, DSL service, and "city water" instead of a well.)

A LITTLE bit of "civilization" isn't such a bad thing!

 

[dmccarty]

Farmwithjunk,

I'll never have an asphault driveway because of the job you just did. Its either gravel, concrete or pavers. I like gravel. Cheap to put down. Cheaper to maintain. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Ironically, when we lived in Lou'sville we had to reseal. This was many moons ago but I think we had a dohicky that was a brush on one side and a squeegee on the other.

Later,
Dan

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Farmwithjunk,
I get the pleasure of sealing my drive in the next few weeks.

In the past I have used the squeegee and brush method...never tried a roller. The applicator has the squeegee and brush on the same end, seems to work good.
On places where I need the sealer thicker I use the brush since "I" can control the thickness better with the brush.

 

[Jagmandave]

Why are you sealing your asphalt drive? Is it just for that nice black look?
The reason for my question is that I don't understand why it's necessary, since they don't seal asphalt roads, and they have a lot more traffic on them than your driveway. Some have said it's to keep moisture out, but there's moisture under the road, doesn't that then seal it in?
Enquiring minds want to know!

 

[LBrown59]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Why are you sealing your asphalt drive? Is it just for that nice black look?
The reason for my question is that I don't understand why it's necessary, since they don't seal asphalt roads, and they have a lot more traffic on them than your driveway. Some have said it's to keep moisture out, but there's moisture under the road, doesn't that then seal it in?
Enquiring minds want to know! )</font>
Good ?s.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Our county and towns seal roads up here. They spray the sealant down first and then spread a thin layer of stone over top to protect the cars that will drive over it.

Also, our State department here in NY goes over the state roads with a crew and seals all the cracks before winter. One guy is in front of the truck with the air hose clearing the cracks of dirt and such. Then there are one or two guys walking behind the truck with applicators and apply a 4 inch wide streak of heated sealant on the cracks.

The reason you seal the roads and driveways in areas that will freeze is because you don't want water to sit in the cracks and then freeze. All that does is loosen the asphalt and create pot holes. In areas that don't freeze or only have a short cold season then you probably don't have these problems.

 

[Egon]

Up in the frozen north this is a regular maintenance procedure we call chip seal that is done on a regular basis.

Tack coat covered with a layer of gravel chips that traffic packs. Seals the weathering cracks, gives better traction and headlights are more effective.

Geat for the installers of windsheilds. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Egon

 

[Jagmandave]

I've seen them seal the cracks in the roadway, that I understand, but what he did was squeegee down a seal coat, which does not fill cracks, in my experience......and, they don't put down this type seal coat on the roadway, but they do it in parking lots all the time. Which method is better, I wonder? Why do it in parking lots and driveways, but not on the road? It made sense to me to try and keep the water from being able to run down into cracks and freeze, but again, the top coats I've seen sold for driveways do not do this, hence my question...............

also, does Mt. Washington, Kentucky get cold enough to freeze?"