CURB APPEAL? …..Time to seal the drive!

The leaves are starting to bud and the last remnants of winter have melted away. It’s the time that many people set their sights on the outside projects designed to beautify and repair their homes. One outside project that is sure to spruce up any home and protect its value is sealing the asphalt driveway that leads up from the curb. It’s a job that most “do-it-yourselfers” can accomplish in one weekend and one which immediately provides a “well maintained” appearance to the home.

The types of Driveway Sealers available to consumers have changed over recent years. For the most part, gone from the market place are the solvent-based sealers due to clean air legislation. Also, the market has shifted away from coal tar- based sealers because of their acrid odor, cost, health concerns, and hazardous environmental profile. In their place are asphalt-emulsion based sealers. We have been fortunate to be a bit ahead of the curve and have been producing asphalt-emulsion based sealers as environmentally friendly alternatives to coal tar for over 15 years.

We manufacture 3 main types of asphalt emulsion sealers:

1. Asphalt Emulsion Sealer (Product #81270)(Yellow Pail)
2. Asphalt Emulsion Fill ‘N Seal (Product #81280)(Red Pail)
3. Polymer Modified Fill ‘N Seal (Product #81290)(Blue Pail)

They provide an effective “ladder” of products to sell as “good”, “better” and “best”. In addition, retail margins can typically be increased on the upper end products.

• Product #81270 is rubberized and provides good protection while drying to rich matte black surface.
• Product #81280 has the same attributes as #81270 with the addition a finely graded aggregate to fill and seal small cracks up to 1/8” as well as providing increased traction.
• Product #81290 builds on the Fill ‘N Seal product by adding polymer to the mix. This increases the wear resistance of the sealer and extends its life 2 to 3 times that of 81270 or 81280. We also recommend this product for commercial pavement or other high traffic areas.

Lastly, pavement repair products such as Crackfiller and Chuckhole Patch provide additional revenue sources for most retailers. They are items which can easily be added-on to most “project materials list” and provide an easy-to-use solution to common pavement problems. Our chuckhole patch is slightly different than most retail products. It stays soft and malleable in the bag and may actually be used in damp conditions Our Liquid Crack Filler is rubberized for increased flexibility and can be used for cracks up to ½” wide.

*Driveway Sealing Tip: On days above 65° F, lighten dampen the driveway prior to sealing. This will cool the driveway to allow additional time for spreading and makes it easier for the sealer to flow into small nooks and crannies.