When summer rolls around, we’re all spending time thinking about beach trips and firing up the BBQ! But there’s one property feature that often goes overlooked at this time of year, and you might not expect it to need much care at all…
It’s your driveway. Specifically, your asphalt driveway! These high-heat months in Aotearoa can wreak some serious havoc on your driveway’s condition, but they can also be the best time to put in some much-needed maintenance.
If your driveway is starting to look a bit grey, or tiny “spider-web” cracks are appearing, then summer driveway sealcoating is the best thing you can do for your asphalt’s health. So, let’s unpack what sealcoating actually does, why it’s best to do it in summer, and how to go about sealcoating your driveway this summer.
Does your driveway need a new sealcoat?
If summer is on the horizon and you’re putting together your household maintenance to-do list, it’s important to be proactive. If your driveway will need sealcoating in winter, it might serve you to jump ahead and handle it this summer as a way to winterproof, rather than waiting for one of the toughest times of the year to do driveway maintenance.
Here’s a quick test to see if you need a sealcoat or if a full repair is in order: pour a cup of water on your driveway and watch what happens. If the water beads up, your current seal is holding. If it soaks in and leaves a dark patch, your asphalt is “thirsty” and needs protection now, before the next big winter storm can hit.
With that in mind, let’s unpack why summer is the best season for this type of driveway maintenance!
Why is summer driveway sealcoating more effective?
Asphalt sealcoating is to asphalt as an outdoor varnish is to treated timber. It’s a protective layer that soaks into the top layer of your driveway or pavement, replenishing any oils lost to the sun and rain. Your driveway is rarely protected from the elements, so sealcoating is vital to keep the bitumen bond and the asphalt itself safe for as long as possible.
For the sealcoat to bond properly to the asphalt, the air and ground temperatures need to be just right. In cold months, the sealcoat won’t spread as quickly and doesn’t bond with the asphalt; instead, it just sits on top of the driveway without penetrating into the driveway itself.
On the other hand, summer’s high heat allows the sealcoat to soak deep into the pores of the asphalt, creating a chemical bond that is far superior to that in winter.
Now, this doesn’t mean we skip sealcoating in winter altogether. We use the 10°C rule to ensure we’re working within an ideal thermal window (i.e., the temperature needs to stay above 10°C for at least 24 hours). This is possible in a Kiwi winter, but not easily or predictably. This is what makes summers so ideal for this style of driveway maintenance.
The Benefits of Sealcoating in Summer
You get your driveway back faster.
One of the biggest hurdles for homeowners is the “waiting game.” Nobody wants to park their car on the street for three days while they wait for the driveway to dry. Summer driveway sealcoating takes advantage of longer daylight hours, more predictable weather, and something we call ‘rapid evaporation’.
In essence, the water in the sealcoating emulsion evaporates much faster in the high heat of a Kiwi summer. This means you can often walk on the surface within 3 to 4 hours and drive on it within 24 to 48 hours. Even though a full cure will take much longer, this is a major benefit if you’re not keen on finding another place to park for the next week.
Your driveway or pavement is much more protected from the sun.
UV rays break down the carbon bonds in the bitumen. This is why an old driveway turns grey and brittle; the “glue” that holds the stones together is being fried away.
By opting for summer driveway sealcoating, you are essentially applying a high-SPF sunscreen to your pavement (a semi-permanent one, at that). This protective layer blocks the harsh UV rays, keeping the underlying asphalt of your driveway flexible and preventing it from cracking under the weight of your car.
Your driveway is winterproofed.
When the autumn rains arrive, water will find every tiny crack in your driveway. If those cracks aren’t sealed, water seeps under the asphalt, softens the base course, and turns into a pothole by July. Sealing in the summer ensures that when the wet weather hits, the water simply beads off the surface and heads straight for the drain where it belongs.
Professionals are on hand to tackle it quickly.
There is one risk you run by having your driveway sealcoated in summer. In the industry, we call it flash drying. On those rare days when the temperature really soars, the sealant can flash dry, which essentially means the top layer of the asphalt skin over before the bottom has had a chance to cure. This traps moisture underneath, leading to bubbling as the air slowly escapes.
We address this by monitoring how hot the pavement gets. If it’s a real scorcher, we know that it’s important to pre-mist the driveway with a fine spray of water to cool it down before we begin. This is why working with professionals is so important, no matter which season you’re giving your driveway some much-needed TLC.
Have your driveway repaired and sealcoated by the experts.
We at Asphalt & Civil are on hand to help you manage the condition of your driveway and pavement. As Auckland’s most trusted asphalt driveway and pavement specialists, we can help with your summer driveway sealcoating.
Get in touch with our team for a quick, easy quote today.