When's the ? That answer depends on the climate where you live. In Michigan, summer is one of the best times for driveway sealcoating because you have less risk of freezing temperatures and precipitation.
Here’s why summer is one of our busiest seasons for sealcoating.
Consistently High Temperatures
Unlike sealcoating in the spring or fall, you don't have to worry about temperatures dropping below 50 degrees. Even the best driveway sealer will fail if installed in cold weather. Fortunately, Michigan has long periods of time in the summer where the temperature doesn't even dip beneath 70 degrees, much less 50 degrees. Warm sunny weather is best for driveway sealcoating because it decreases the amount of time needed to cure.
In the summer, you also don't have to worry about cooler temperatures overnight. We like to give your asphalt driveway at least 24 hours to cure after being sealcoated. During this time, it's important that the driveway sealer not get washed away by rain or damaged by freezing temperatures. Otherwise, the sealer won't work as intended to protect your driveway from UV rays, precipitation, and automobile fluids.
Dry Weather
You can't sealcoat wet pavement, which is why it's important to check your local weather forecast. Our asphalt driveway contractors are busiest in the summer because there are long periods of time where we don't get rain. Dry weather conditions are perfect for sealcoating.
Our paving contractors will check the local forecast to make sure the driveway sealer has at least 24 hours to cure before the next rain. If rain is on the horizon, we may reschedule your job until we experience drier weather.
Less Competition
Once we get into early fall, homeowners will start to get worried about the effect ice and snow will have on their driveways. When this happens, there'll be more competition for asphalt contractors. If you want to make sure your asphalt driveway is protected from the elements this winter, we highly recommend scheduling sealcoating as soon as possible.
Since the days are longer in the summer, some contractors are able to work longer hours. This means that there'll be more opportunities to get your driveway sealcoated before winter. If you want to , call our contractors today to request your quote.
Can I Wait to Sealcoat My Driveway Until Fall?
Yes, you can sealcoat your driveway in the fall. However, opportunities for driveway sealcoating may be limited. In general, our asphalt contractors are able to continue sealcoating from May to October. However, the length of the sealcoating season depends on Mother Nature's willingness to cooperate.
If the temperature stays consistently above 50 degrees we may be able to sealcoat your driveway this fall. But in general, it’s better to get sealcoating done sooner rather than later. This is because we have to repair asphalt cracks and potholes before sealcoating. The longer you wait, the more damage we may need to repair before sealcoating your asphalt driveway.
While sealcoating is a great preventive measure, you can’t use it to fill cracks and potholes. Instead, it seals your driveway against the elements. To learn more, check out our blog post on how sealcoating prevents sun damage.
Request a Free Estimate for Driveway Sealcoating
Our driveway sealcoating contractors in Grand Rapids, MI, work hard to earn your business. They provide a range of asphalt services to help prolong the life of your driveway. To request a free estimate, call A-1 Asphalt Inc. at (800) 871-4401.
This blog post has been updated.