Resealing An Asphalt Driveway

Apply acrylic latex driveway sealers in warm temperatures; otherwise the coating won't bond and will need to be removed.

by Brett Martin

From The Family Handyman

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Q Why is our driveway so filthy? The kids’ clothes and bare feet turn black when in contact with it. Our neighbors don’t have this problem.

Marjie Rausch, Creve Coeur, MO

A It sounds like you (or a pro) used a latex sealer and it didn’t bond. Chances are that you applied it when the temperature was too low. The pavement temperature should be at least 55 degrees F for latex-type (including acrylic) sealers. Otherwise the resins won’t bond and the fine black pigments will come off on contact. Resealing the driveway won’t help because the underlying coat of sealant didn’t stick.

Perhaps the sealer you used was simply defective. The fix is the same in either case — pressure-wash or scrape off the sooty layer, wait for a warm day, then apply a new coat of sealant.