Q. How long is the driveway sealing season?

  A. Our season in the Northeast usually runs from mid-March until the first week of November. If you recently had a new driveway installed, be sure reserve your spot in the 2011 schedule. We are happy to offer a complimentary Driveway Analysis year-round.

Q. When is the best time to have my driveway sealed?

  A. There is no wrong or right answer and it really ends up being your personal preference. Here are some common reasons when to seal your  driveway:

Springtime: The sun's UV rays can cause binder to become brittle during the hot Summer months. Sealing your driveway during the Spring can reduce the risk of UV damage occurring.

Summertime: This is the most common time to treat driveways and for good reasons too. It's hot! This allows for all sealants to dry fast, reducing the downtime involved when waiting to use your driveway again.

Fall: A lot of homeowners choose to wait until Fall to seal their driveways. This does make sense since the Wintertime does do the most damage to asphalt driveways. The down-side to this is a longer curing time for the sealant and the multitude of leaves falling on the driveway.

Q. If I sealed my newer condition driveway with latex, can it be sealed with acrylic?

 A. It can but it is not recommended. Acrylic will not properly bond to the original asphalt binder (bitumen), and it would most likely have to be applied the following year as well. The sealant will also take the texture of what ever patterns the old sealant may have left if it was applied by brush, squeegee or even by incorrect spraying patterns. If there are already cracks forming as a result of the previously applied sealant, they will be visible as well. Sealing with acrylic will slow the progression of the hairline cracks but the condition can not be reversed. 

Q. My newer condition driveway was sealed with latex and it's starting to crack already. Why?

 A. If your driveway has been sealed with latex, you may already be seeing hairline cracks forming on the surface of your driveway- a direct result of the material being applied too thick usually to compensate for it's poor wear characteristics.Acrylic is engineered to take the texture of unsealed driveways, keeping them looking like they were just paved and not looking like they were sealed. It is much more durable than latex and therefore does not need to be applied as thick. 

Q. I just paved my driveway. Is it too soon to seal it?

A. If your driveway is at least 30 days old it can be sealed but only with Acrylic. Most sealants like Coal Tar/Latex emulsions and even Oil-based (Gilsonite) products require that you wait as long as one to two years to seal your driveway. Unfortunately by that time, the protective top layer of asphalt (glue that holds your driveway together) will have already worn off. This will allow for the capillary action of water to enter the tiny spaces in between the stones of your driveway and expand these tiny fissures during the Winter months. Acrylic will allow your brand-new driveway to 'breathe' when other sealants will 'smother' the asphalt, preventing it from curing properly. By sealing right from the start you are extending the life of your driveway several years by preventing capillary action from ever occurring.

Q. Why shouldn't you apply Acrylic by squeegee or brush?

 A. More seal, less coat. Driveways still to this day are sealed by squeegee or brush. These methods pose several problems: First off, applying any material too thick actually creates tiny cracks as the material expands and contracts while losing it's elasticity. Secondly, both methods do not ensure an even application of the material. Additionally, the material is more then likely going to get on your walkways, patios, and your home. And lastly your new driveway after several years will be nothing more then a cracked, texture-less surface

Q. I have quite a bit of stone-work done. What is done to protect it?

A. Let's face it. You didn't invest in the beauty of your property to have it compromised by getting driveway sealant all over your Belgium block. One thing SealTECH understands about hardscaping is that besides protecting your driveway, we are also protecting your Home. After all clean-up work is performed we meticulously mask off all areas of concern. SealTECH is one of the few driveway sealing companies that will also mask off the end of your driveway to create the straightest most professional lines in the industry. When all masking material is removed you will get a sense of why you chose SealTECH to protect your driveway and your Home.

Q. How soon after our driveway is sealed can we use it?

A. If you're like most homeowners, you don't want to wait two or three days before being able to use your driveway again after it's been sealed.  Since Acrylic is the fastest-drying driveway sealant on the market, you will be able to walk on your driveway within 30 minutes and drive on it less then an hour!*

 *Drying time depends on several factors including temperature, humidity and shade to name a few.

Q. Is Acrylic more expensive than other sealants on the market?

A. From a short-term perspective Acrylic will run slightly higher in price than all other sealants on the market.  From a cost effective standpoint, Acrylic is no contest to extending the life of your driveway when sealed on a regular basis (every other year). Combine this with incredible attention to detail and over the top customer service and price tends to take a back seat.

Q. Someone told me that spray was not a good application method because they got their garage and stone sprayed. Why is SealTECH different then other companies?

A. Spray application is the most time consuming of methods used when sealing driveways- IF IT IS DONE CORRECTLY. SealTECH masks all stone, retaining walls, walkways and home. The end result is an even coverage with precise lines and a driveway that looks as though you've just gotten it paved.  

***SealTECH does NOT recommend Acrylic for driveways that have been already sealed by Latex or Coal Tar based products.***

Q. Can Acrylic be used for commercial purposes?

A. Yes. However SealTECH specializes in residential and low-traffic commercial applications such as small parking lots that are less than 10,000 square feet in size. 

Q. Is there any odor associated with Acrylic?

A. Acrylic is a low V.O.C. material and has a light acrylic odor associated with it when it is applied. When your driveway is completely dry however, there is no odor at all. This is why Acrylic has become the choice of families with small children as well as people who suffer from various forms of allergies.