Smart people choose green, but your driveway should be black.
Family and Locally Owned by Greenskeeper Lawn Care, Serving Fairfield County.
FAQ
Learn More About Sealcoating
What Does an Asphalt Sealing Application Do for Your Pavement?
Prevents oxidation: Regular sealing applications shield against the drying action of the sun, checking, cracking, and deterioration.
Waterproofs: The accumulation of moisture in a pavement structure is probably the greatest cause of pavement damage. Sealing applications prevent water seepage into the porous asphalt, stopping weather damage.
Saves you money: Asphalt, a petroleum product, has tripled in cost. For pennies per square foot, sealing applications can protect your investment and prevent costly repairs.
What Do Your Driveway Sealing Services Include?
- Driveway sealcoating
- Asphalt crack repair
- Oil stain primer
- Edging and sweeping
- Routing and wire brushing
- Moss and silt removal
- Chemical grass and vegetation control
- Power washing
What Is a Crack Filler?
A crack filler is especially misunderstood, because even though the customer is normally charged for it, we never guarantee how long it will last, and it is explicitly stated in the proposal that a crack filler is a “cosmetic coating” only. Many people seem to think that a crack filler will last forever or at least until the next time their driveway needs to be sealed, which is not often the case.
Some homeowners decide to fill their own cracks. Without fail, they will slop crack filler all over the top of the pavement, sometimes extending two or more inches on either side of the crack. It is necessary to advise them that coal tar sealer will not adhere to crack filler on top of the pavement.
Homeowners who decide to fill their own cracks, Driveway Seal by Greenskeeper will not guarantee the application of seal coat.
Understanding Cracks in Your Pavement
Cracks are a tremendous problem to everyone. Once they occur, they will never go away and they will always be visible.
The best you can hope for is to create a watertight seal in the crack to prevent water infiltration.
Crack filling compound may last a few months or for several years, and it is impossible to predict how long these products will last. Therefore, Driveway Seal by Greenskeeper cannot guarantee crack filling compound.
How to Stop Damage to Your Asphalt Pavement From Vegetation
When vegetation grows through the pavement, the gravel aggregate in the asphalt pavement is loosened and it breaks apart easily, ruining the nice and smooth surface of your pavement.
If 1 1/2 to 3 inches of asphalt won’t stop vegetation, you can bet your life a coating of sealer which never exceeds 1/64 of an inch won’t stop it either! Therefore, Greenskeeper cannot guarantee the vegetation breakthrough won’t reoccur. The control of these grasses DOES NOT fall within the scope of your sealcoating. You and you alone must protect your investment periodically throughout the growing season.
Chemically: Once a month, spray Roundup or Kleenup along the edges of your driveway. These are contact herbicides which are only effective when applied to green foliage and vegetation. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations in regard to mixing.
Physically: Trim the edges of your driveway every time you mow to prevent the “runners” of grass plants from establishing a foothold in your pavement.
Cracking and Checking Previous Coats of Asphalt Sealer
If your driveway has been coated with numerous applications of coal-tar pitch emulsion sealer without a rubber additive the sealer does not have the flexibility necessary to survive the constant expansion and contraction your pavement is subjected to. Therefore, Greenskeeper cannot guarantee the longevity of your sealcoating application.
Over a period of time, cracking will probably become visible even if a highly rubberized sealer such as ours is used.
Although this cracking will detract from the appearance of the sealer, your pavement will still be protected from the damaging effects of ultraviolet rays of the sun.
If you ever have this driveway repaved, Driveway Seal by Greenskeeper recommends, that to reduce the probability of this type of damage occurring, use only heavily rubberized sealer to coat the driveway.
Misuse of Filler and Sealer Products
The Problem: If at some point in the past, a crack filler or sealer was applied to your pavement and the product was not applied according to its intended use, a problem with the seal coat may arise.
These compounds are not intended to be applied on the pavement surface, but rather inside the crack or depression, and should never be higher than the surface plane of the pavement.
FREE Estimates
From your driveway to your lawn, we help you maintain it with flawless sealcoating applications.
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
If I accept the proposal, how would I get started?
All we need is a credit card on file to schedule your job, or you may pay by check or cash.
A deposit of half down is required, and the balance is due upon the day of completion.
When will my job be scheduled?
We schedule no more than 24 hours in advance as to minimize the need to reschedule, due to changing weather conditions and other factors out of our control.
We will call and speak to you in person or call and leave a voice mail with instructions, such as: pets inside, cars off the driveway, etc. You do not need to call back unless the scheduled day will not work for you.
Why was the job scheduled for a particular day and the work was never completed?
In most cases, car or other obstacles left in driveway, pets outside, sprinklers were running, wet pavement, changing weather.
We will always ring the doorbell when we arrive.
Why does my asphalt drive have cracks?
Shifting or settling of the base material beneath the asphalt will cause the driveway to crack.
Asphalt shrinks and expands over time as it ages from harsh weather conditions which in time causes cracks.
Heavy traffic such as large trucks, campers, boats, motorhomes, etc. can cause cracking from their excessive weight.
Tree roots, vegetation, bamboo, etc. growing underneath the asphalt can also cause cracks.
How do you fill cracks in the asphalt?
We trowel in special asphalt polymers that harden like concrete. Any crack filling process will not stop all moisture from penetrating a cracked area, however it will stop most water and help prevent vegetation from growing through the cracks.
Why don’t you use hot tar or rubber crack filler?
First and foremost, hot tar and rubber fillers are not compatible with the sealer we use. Our sealer will not bond with hot tar or rubber and will begin to peel off in a short period of time.
Secondly, hot tar or rubber becomes very pliable in the heat of the summer and it can easily be pulled out by sticking to car tires as they roll over it.
Finally, once a hot tar or rubber filled crack opens the options for refilling it are limited because nothing will stick to it. The only course of action is to remove all the old hot tar or rubber filling and start over, this is very time consuming, which would equate to more
money spent.
What are the benefits to spraying vs. squeegeeing or brushing on the sealer?
Spraying on the sealer will last longer.
Spraying the sealer will allow for a nice, even coat which will help the sealer properly cure.
By spraying, it will prevent unsightly brush marks or a checkered appearance.
Brushing or squeegeeing tend to apply the sealer unevenly, thicker in some areas and thinner in others. This process can delay the curing time which could lead to a degeneration of the sealer, which in turn drastically reduces the life expectancy of the job.
How long after spraying sealer can I begin using my driveway?
For the most part, 24 hours is the standard curing time. However, shady spots on the driveway or during humid conditions drying/curing time may take longer.
I just had my driveway sealed and waited until it was dry, now I have tire marks in some spots, what happened?
Car tires can mark a recently sealed driveway; try to avoid making sharp turns, and rest assured the marks will begin to fade and become invisible over time.
Why is there sealer on my lawn? Will it cause damage to the lawn?
Unfortunately during the sealing application some overspray or foot prints may get onto
your lawn but once again rest assured that after your first mowing the sealer on the lawn will be gone
When is the best time to seal my driveway?
Best times to apply a sealer are during spring and fall or when the weather has a consistent temperature of 50 degrees over a 24-hour period of time.
How often should I seal my driveway?
We recommend a new coat of sealer every year, especially driveways that are shady or have been damaged by gas or oil leaks from vehicles, lawn equipment, etc.
