Need to Seal/Recoat My Driveway (Lowes, window, paint, cleaning)
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Any recommendations for a do-it-yourself driveway sealant or coating.
I've used Latex-ite from HD. Lowes sells the Black Jack brand.
And both brands have several choices with great sounding names like "airport grade" "ultra maxx" " ultra shield" "optimum" "acrylic plus," etc.
The Latex-ite was the kind you squeegee on. But there's also roll on type. (I'd imagine that it's thinner than the one you put on with a squeegee.)
I don't mind doing this project but I REALLY would rather not fight with trying to stir and mix it. The gallons I had were a BEAR to stir...I mean HARD. Just the stirring was a work out. I'm hoping for something that's easy (or no) stir. But I do want it to be more than just rolling on something that's little more than black paint.
Any recommendations for a do-it-yourself driveway sealant or coating.
I've used Latex-ite from HD. Lowes sells the Black Jack brand.
And both brands have several choices with great sounding names like "airport grade" "ultra maxx" " ultra shield" "optimum" "acrylic plus," etc.
The Latex-ite was the kind you squeegee on. But there's also roll on type. (I'd imagine that it's thinner than the one you put on with a squeegee.)
I don't mind doing this project but I REALLY would rather not fight with trying to stir and mix it. The gallons I had were a BEAR to stir...I mean HARD. Just the stirring was a work out. I'm hoping for something that's easy (or no) stir. But I do want it to be more than just rolling on something that's little more than black paint.
Any recommendations?
I have used the coal tar/asphalt sealers. The only way to practically stir them for use is with a large 1/2" drill, and the 3-foot mixing blade (sort of spiral-shaped), which you can get at any home improvement store. Makes the job much less work. One person is mixing, while the other is applying, in 5-gal buckets. Personally, I only use the petroleum-based sealers. To apply, there is a tool that looks like a broom on one side, and a scraper on the other, the former to work the sealant into the driveway, and the latter is to scrape it to a smooth finish. I always do two coats, on separate days. The first coat is sucked up by the asphalt heavily, the second coat spreads much more easily. Obviously before you start, fill all the cracks, etc.
It is a lot of work to put on a long-lasting sealer (in my last house it took 25 5-gal buckets), but made the driveway look good for years, and very water-impervious.
Yeah, I know it's a tedious job. I've done it myself -- BY MYSELF before. I know about the "mixer" attachment for drills but was just hoping someone had found a 'no stir' or 'easy mix' sealer out there somewhere.
I did like the way the driveway came out when the job was done. I was hoping to be able to work at it a little less, that's all.
I hate to buy the mixing attachment, just for this one job. Especially when it may be the last time I do it. But I've got the squeegee, so maybe.....
I don't know about anyone else, but at 52, the older I get the more I think -- uh, pay someone ELSE to do this. But then I get to thinking about the last time some one else did it -- and I did a better job! That person just sprayed down liquid tar/asphalt on the driveway. Didn't fill cracks or clean beforehand. (In 2006 I paid 125.00 for that. I guess it's about 200.00 now, maybe)
Let's just say MY JOB was more detailed and precise.
I only need two buckets per coat...so it's pay someone else 200.00 for a job that may not be as particular as I'd like....or did it myself -- put the work in -- and for about 100.00 -- do it myself.....we'll see which side of my brain prevails
Im in the same boat as the OP, I got a quote from a well reputable company and it sounds like they do good work. but at 750$ to do my driveway, i can save almost 500$ to do it myself. Its a pretty long and wide driveway so its going to be a complete PITA to do, but Id rather not drop close to a grand to have someone do it.
Do you all do one coat or two?...if you do two do you them on the same day hours apart....or 2 days in a row?
It's been a while, and maybe I've blocked it out of my mind -- I THINK I did two coats -- one as early in the day as I could, and the other about six hours later.
I usually do the cleaning, prep and crack filling on day one....and the actual sealer coats on day two.
1) I'd rather have a long day getting the two coats over with.
2) Trying the juggle my schedule, AND the weather not to hot so I pass the heck out and not too cold at night, AND the needed days of no rain afterward -- AND having to park on the street until it cures......that extra day -- making for 3 total -- is just too much of an added issue to get the timing right.
If I recall, there were 3 grades/levels of the sealer. Thin, thick, and one very thick one that had fine sand in it. The thicker (sand) one was better for older, porous surfaces. Like many things, preparation is the key.
1. Edge the driveway so you can coat it all.
2. Fill cracks with crack sealer.
3. One coat with the thicker or sand stuff.
4. Place empty buckets at foot of driveway.
5. Throw away the shoes worn while doing it..LOL
I never used a power stirrer but the catch (especially with the thick/sand stuff) is to stir it good before and while doing.
Make sure you read the temperature ranges the product should be used in..
It was mid November and my dad called me for the keys to his old station wagon.. I was in the middle of something and asked if it could wait... He then tells me that "some guys" are at hsi house to seal the driveway... My comment was "Its too cold to do that today" and he cuts me off saying "Well these guys say...." I just hung up in the middle of that and drove over to drop off the keys...
What they used - I do not know
What they did not do was edge the grass off the asphalt , fill in any cracks or holes and probably did a very poor job sweeping if at all..
The temperature high was forecast to be 34 and an overnight low of 19... This is NOT the time to do this job ... well from a standpoint of not sweating your brains out - it is great - but not what the manufactures recommend..
These F.... A... N... were taking advantage of an 80+ year old man... I was so pissed off, I just handed the keys out the window and came back home.. NOT a good idea to be that pissed off with a large caliber gun in the glove box..
HIGH of 34! Dang...... That's soooo far removed from when that should be done. I can see why you were angry.
I have an 86 year old mom so I feel for you. You really have to stay on top of what these old folks are up to....you love 'em but Lord known they can drive you crazy
As for doing the driveway, I'm leaning toward buying a stirrer, or asking an elderly widow friend of mine if she has one. Her husband did his own cement work so I'm sure hoping he had one. If not, I guess I'll just buy one. Stirring was a bich.
Now I've come up with ANOTHER project...... re-doing the concrete for part of that older friend's driveway. The 8" transition that slopes up from the street to her apron is all cracked, half of it is missing so I'm hoping to squeeze that in in the next two weeks. But you need a couple of days with no rain and the right timing with other things that are going on, so we'll see.
At this point, I'll likely just do her project (it's less work)...and let MY driveway wait 'til next year.
Neither project is super demanding or the largest most complicated maintenance that I'm sure we've ever tackled, or the most dreaded thins in the world. For me it's like power washing or cleaning the gutters... it's just. enough. of. a. pain. to make me think about paying someone else to do it....when, of course, I can do it myself.
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