How Much Does Asphalt Sealing Cost?

Asphalt Sealing Cost Factors 

The cost of any asphalt sealing job is dependent on an array of factors, from size and shape to the state of the current surface and what repairs are necessary before the contractor can apply sealant. Take a look at some of the most common cost factors that influence your final project price.

Size

The most important cost factor in sealing asphalt is the length and width of your paved area. The cost of the sealant and labor will be higher for larger surface areas. Most driveway contractors charge by the square foot at a rate of $0.68 to $1.64 per square foot for labor and materials. Note that for small driveways, you may be charged a minimum fee of $100 to $200 for a sealing job.

Shape

If you have an irregularly-shaped driveway, it may be harder to treat, which will increase your total cost. When it comes to sealcoating, flat and uniform surfaces are the easiest to treat and require less time and effort. Sloped areas are tricky to seal correctly because the solution may run down during the process. Long pathways are also more time-consuming because of their unique shape.

Area Accessibility 

The ease of access to the area that needs sealcoating is another factor in costs. How hard is it for the pro to access the place that needs a sealcoat? The harder it is to access, the longer the job will take, which will add on to labor costs. Surfaces that are difficult to access include backyard areas and blacktops nestled in remote spaces on your property where it’s harder to bring equipment.

Type of Sealer

The type of sealer you choose determines how much you pay per square foot. Most asphalt driveway sealants come in 5-gallon or 55-gallon units, and you can get an average of 100 square feet of coverage per gallon. Coverage varies depending on the thickness of the sealant, with thicker sealants providing less coverage but a more durable finish.

Number of Coats

The number of coats you need depends on the type of traffic you're expecting on your asphalt. If it's a basic residential driveway, one coat is enough. If your driveway gets a lot of traffic or holds heavier vehicles, two to three coats should give sufficient protection. Additional coats will increase the cost of sealing the driveway, but you won’t pay twice for cleaning or surface prep that was done on the first coat.

Prep

Sealcoating cannot take place until cracks or crevices in your driveway or other paved area have been filled or repaired. If the material is severely cracked or damaged, the repair process will be more extensive and costly. However, you need to make these preparations before you commence any sealing.

We highly recommend that a professional take care of these repairs to maximize the life of your asphalt surface. Sometimes one sealing pro can do both, other times you need to hire two separate contractors.

Cleanup 

Before a driveway is sealed, it must be cleaned. Grass and weeds must be cleared from edges or inside cracks. Then the surface must be blown clear and pressure washed. Some contractors include pressure washing as part of the total cost of sealing, but otherwise you’ll pay separate fees of $0.27 to $0.39 per square foot for the service and up to $0.25 per square foot for weed control.

Labor

The standard rate for professional asphalt driveway labor is around $36 per hour or between $0.60 and $1.75 per square foot, with an average of around $1.15 per square foot. Since the average 500-square-foot job requires 16 hours, you can expect to spend about $1,150 for a 1,000-square-foot sealcoating.

Asphalt Driveway Sealing Costs by Application

Additional Cost Factors

If you’re having an existing driveway sealed, you may require additional services prior to sealing depending on the condition of your asphalt.

Repairing Cracks or Chips

Fissures, cracks, or chips in your must be smoothed over or filled before you can apply sealant to an asphalt driveway. The average cost to repair asphalt paving is $2 to 5 per square foot. On the high end, repairs for potholes cost as much as $5,500. Low-end repairs are as little as $300. The average cost for asphalt driveway repairs is $2,325, with a typical range of $1,000 to $3,700.

Cleaning Before Sealing

Before sealing an asphalt driveway surface, it must be free from oil, dirt, or debris. You can clean the driveway yourself, but if it's terribly dirty, oily, or filled with debris, it might require professional power washing to get clean enough to take the sealant. The average cost of power washing is $225. This is a factor that should add to your costs to present a realistic expectation of what to save for the job.

Asphalt Sealer Prices

Note: The typical 5-gallon sealcoat container can cover between 250-500 square feet depending on the material's condition and texture. For simplicity's sake, these examples use five gallons that cover the maximum 500 square feet.

DIY vs. Hiring a Professional

If you plan to seal an asphalt driveway yourself, you’ll need the right tools and knowledge. A DIY job can save you around $1.15 per square foot on labor costs, and the idea of saving money draws many homeowners to the prospect. However, labor is only about half the overall cost, and you still need to account for equipment costs. Before you start a DIY job, consider the following:

• Safety: You must protect your skin and eyes from potential hazards like fumes, sprays, etc.

• Cleaning: You must get rid of all oil, stains, and debris from the surface.

• Quality of Repairs: All cracks must be properly addressed before you apply the sealcoat.

• Proper Procedure: If you do any steps wrong, you’ll need to hire a pro to fix your mistakes.

Driveway sealing by professionals is usually very affordable and can save you time and the trouble of renting equipment. If you hire a paving pro, vet your contractor by checking out customer reviews to get the right person and price. The right pro will be properly trained, licensed, and insured.

DIY Costs

With DIY, you don’t pay for labor. The average cost to patch a driveway yourself is $3 to $5 per square foot. The costs for materials per 500 square feet are around $360 when using a mid-range sealer. However, this number doesn't figure in fixing any cracks or applying a second coating, which can cost you another $180 in sealcoating. Other equipment and material costs are listed below.

FAQs

Is asphalt sealing worth it?

Asphalt sealing is worth doing to protect your driveway. Unsealed asphalt can develop cracks and potholes, which can worsen over time and cause severe damage to your driveway’s foundation. If you want your driveway to last and avoid having to completely resurface it sooner than necessary or pay the cost of a new driveway, seal coating is worthwhile.

How often should asphalt driveways be sealed?

How often you should seal your asphalt depends on where you live. If you live in a mild climate, you may only need to seal the surface every three years. If you live in extreme heat or cold, you should seal your driveway every other year to protect it from sun or winter weather damage. Figure the frequency of sealing a driveway when purchasing a home in an area with extreme weather.

What is an asphalt filler sealer and which product is best?

An asphalt filler sealer does double duty by filling in cracks while simultaneously sealcoating. If you're pressed for time and need to take care of cracks and seal asphalt in a timely manner, this solution can meet your needs. The best asphalt filler sealer is ultimately going to be what fits your budget and project's requirements. Here are five brands that are generally highly rated online.

• Sakrete

• Dseal

• Rust-Oleum

• E-Z Stir

• Black Jack

How can I maintain my coated blacktop?

There are simple preventative measures that you can take to care for your newly coated blacktop. Adhering to these maintenance and care guidelines will help you make the most of your investment.

• Reseal the surface when required, whether it's once every 3 years or every other year.

• Don't park on a newly sealed driveway or parking lot for at least two weeks. This doesn't apply to fast-dry sealers that only require a 24-hour wait.

• For the first 100 days after a fresh sealcoat, don't park on the driveway during the hottest part of the day or allow heavy trucks on the driveway.

• Don't spill gas or oil.

• Don't apply pressure to the edges of any asphalt surface since these are its most vulnerable areas.

• Fix cracks asap. Here are some specifics on the costs to repair a driveway.

• Kill weeds growing through cracks

• Remove snow from your asphalt as soon as you can to prevent extreme temperature or water damage when it melts.

Can a concrete driveway or patio be sealed?

When you want a driveway or patio, asphalt isn't your only material of choice. When it comes to patios, many homeowners choose concrete, namely stamped concrete, which offers brilliant designs that can resemble stones or other natural materials.

On the other hand, driveways don't need as much fanfare. The standard concrete driveway costs around $3,000 to install. Ideally, concrete should be sealed while it's being set with a quality admixture to prevent cracks from even forming. However, you can still seal older concrete to prevent water from entering hairline cracks and making them worse. If you have found that your concrete driveway or patio is too expensive to repair, the national average cost to remove concrete is $1,050. Replacing it with asphalt and starting fresh may be the right solution for you.

Can you seal asphalt a different color?

Absolutely. You don't need to be restricted to the standard blacktop asphalt. These days, you can find this material in exciting colors like brown, white, green, brick, terracotta, and more. If you have a color in mind, shop around! You may find just the color you're looking for.