How you initially heard or found out about the company plays a significant role in the project’s outcome. If a random stranger comes knocking at your door claiming that they have “extra material left over from another job around the corner” and are pushing you to make a quick decision…this is a major red flag and a 99% chance of a scam. You’ll regret the decision a few weeks down the road.

Reputable contractors will sometimes offer services if they are working in the area; however, they understand that it is a “no pressure” situation, and a professional contractor will know accurately how much material they need to complete a job.  Rarely will they have leftover fabric.

Suppose you notice a yard sign or work being done across the street, can physically see the quality results and can verify via word-of-mouth with the neighbor regarding the level of performance and overall experience. In that case, the odds are that you’ll end up with the same high-quality results as your neighbor received.

Ask the contractor for a list of 3 – 5 jobs they have completed in/or around the area. This will allow you to go and personally check out the quality of their work.

With the advent of Google and other search / social mediums, it is essential to consider the overall “package” of the company you are considering. A good company brand starts from the top down. It depicts a positive and result-driven culture. If a company is disheveled with its branding, marketing, and overall message, then the same message will show up at your home or property.

Things to look for / consider:

-Functional & mobile responsive website

-Updated contact information

-Performance reviews on the higher side of ratings

-Educational resources available – demonstrating knowledge of the industry                                                                       

Reviews

• Reviews can be a tricky or misleading point of reference as some mediums allow users to write their reviews, giving their business a higher ranking than is actually presented. A quick google search of the company name + the review platform “River City Sealcoating + Yelp”  should yield the reviews needed to gather and assimilate an overall rating of the company. If the contrast of star reviews is significantly different, usually that’s a sign of review manipulation.

This is your chance to interview with the potential driveway sealcoating contractor. The approach below should help determine if a company is the best fit to give you quality results that last.

Project Walkthrough

This is the first step and should be completed with each residential sealcoat contractor you are considering. Each representative will have their way of walking you through the process, addressing potential areas of concern, and providing a better understanding of what is going on with your sealcoating project.

They must take the time to explain the project in detail without making you feel rushed or confused. Did this person give you the time and respect you deserve? Leave you with a good feeling? A complete understanding of all aspects of the project?  In the event you are not ready for a physical walkthrough, the contractor must provide a detailed proposal and project layout, including square footage, cracks that will be treated, and any other issues needing attention – before the project begins.

Equipment

If the equipment used by the contractor is low in quality and doesn’t properly clean, prep, and seal the driveway surface, there’s a very high chance for the crackfill, sealcoat & asphalt to prematurely fail with peeling, flaking, and other signs of pavement distress.

Cleaning

Surface cleaning and preparation is the first and most critical step to ensure quality and consistent results. High-powered walk-behind blowers, gas-powered crack cleaning, brooms, and steel wire brushes should be used to clean the driveway’s surface, cracks, and edges.  This allows the removal of all debris.   Dirt and other material settle deep in the pores of the asphalt surface and will cause premature failure and flaking of the sealcoat material on top of the areas not properly cleaned.

Material Distribution

Companies use different equipment and methods to transport the materials and equipment to their job sites. Most sealcoating tanks are on tow behind trailer units and pulled behind a pickup truck with all equipment in the back of the bed.

The sizes of tanks used to hold the material vary from 5-gallon buckets purchased at big box stores (not recommended) and homemade plastic totes with trash pumps (not recommended) to the proper 300 / 500 / 1000+ gallon cylinder tanks powered by hydraulic agitation. This agitation allows full sweeping motion of the inside paddles to mix the material and ensure a consistent blend properly.

Knowing the equipment utilized in your project will give you a better sense of what kind of organization you are considering.  

No mixed design was created equal.  It is one of the most critical factors in a quality project. Where the contractor sources their material and what is added to it after it leaves the plant are all vital questions that help formulate a better picture of what’s being applied on your driveway.

There are primarily three types of pavement sealers. They are commonly known as refined tar-based (coal tar-based), asphalt-based, and petroleum-based. All three have advantages but are typically chosen by the contractors’ preference unless otherwise specified.

Not all pavement seal coatings are created equal. For example, refined tar-based sealer offers the best protection against water penetration and chemical resistance. Asphalt-based sealer typically offers poor protection against environmental chemicals and harsher climates (salt water). The petroleum-based sealers protect against water and chemicals between the other two sealers. Another difference between coatings is in terms of wear. Again, refined tar-based sealer offers the best wear characteristics (typically 3–5 years), while asphalt-based sealer may last 1–3 years. Petroleum-based sealer falls between refined tar and asphalt.

With the base sealer established, sand and other additives can and should be used in conjunction with the base mix design to help build a more robust product.

• Sand improves:  durability, skid resistance, decreased sun glare, and helps improves the appearance of minor deformities.

• Latex additives improve sand suspension in the material to help better fill surface deformities, oil and gas resistance, adhesion of sealer to the pavement, and aesthetics with darker colored material.

Each contractor will have their method of applying the material to the surface of your driveway, and it’s essential you know which is being utilized.

More extensive commercial paving & sealcoating companies opt to spray due to the quick application process and ability to complete multiple projects throughout the day needed to keep up with their high overhead equipment and personnel costs. When approaching a home driveway vs. a large, open parking lot, please pay attention to detail.

Spraying

They are spraying. Usually left for large, open parking lots with little chance of overspray. Rapid application method where contractors need to work fast due to the restrictive driveway size coupled with the pressure of the material flow.

Contractors usually start by cutting in the edges of the driveway with a brush to mitigate overspray; however, due to the quick movements needed, there is usually a stark difference between the brushed driveway edges and sprayed area in the middle. As the material cures over time, streaky lines will appear where the lack of uniform overlapping methods occurs.

The applicator’s height, hose length & and material pressure flow all play into the quality of the application. With many variables, driveway sealcoating is best left to a hand-applied application.

Hand Application

Applying the material with fine horse hair brushes is a longer, much cleaner, neater, and uniform application process. Material is used via a hose to the driveway in “beads” or “runs” and then moved via large brushes to distribute finishing strokes. This application ensures an even application rate of material. A uniform application thickness ensures that the material cures correctly in all places throughout the driveway,  leading to a much more aesthetic and longer-lasting maintenance measure.

Constructing a pavement that does not develop cracks after a certain amount of service time is impossible. Gaps must be treated promptly because they create openings for moisture to penetrate the pavement layers. Moisture or water can cause severe damage when trapped in the crack as it will freeze during the colder months, then expand during the warmer months, also known as the “Freeze / Thaw” cycle, which is detrimental to the life of the asphalt.

This shrinking and expansion cause the foundation and other levels of asphalt to rise up and down, eventually forming potholes and other failures. Neglecting pavement cracking usually leads to accelerated pavement deterioration, resulting in significant problems such as potholes or base failures, which cause the serviceability of the pavement to decline.

Could you make sure the proper steps are performed before crack filling and the quality of crack fill material being used? This should be discussed and understood before the project.

Cold Crack Fill

Rapid application process. Crack Fill material usually comes out of a bucket or jug of some sort. Very Concise solution, very brittle when cured, and, will reopen at the first sign of pavement flexing near the crack or surrounding areas. Most driveway sealcoating contractors use this material as it is a very rapid and low-cost service solution without the equipment needed to apply hot application. Due to poor quality results experienced with the product, we do not recommend this method.

Hot Crack Fill

Much longer prep and application process due to the time needed to heat the crack fill material and the meticulous application methods required to ensure a uniform and clean appearance. The material cures to a flexible, gum-like flexibility designed to seal cracks from the bottom up while remaining malleable enough to move with the flexing of pavement. This is the correct and most extended-term solution to the treatment of surface cracking.