What does it cost to have my driveway sealed?
The short answer is that it depends. With driveway sealing, there are enough factors to consider that it is difficult to zero in on a price for every different type of driveway in every city. What we can do is provide you with some guidelines so that you know how to figure the approximate driveway sealing costs of your particular home and how often you should have it sealed.
How Often Should You Seal Asphalt Driveways?
If you look around the web you will find differing opinions on this matter. Some say that you only need to seal your asphalt drive every 3-10 years. Others, every year. The real difficulty in determining what's right for you is weather. If you are in an area where you receive a great deal of rain and snow, or in an area where it freezes and thaws often, or in an area where the temperature reaches well over 100 degrees in the summer and your driveway is unprotected from the brutal rays of the sun, then you need to seal your driveway at least every other year. If you have some moderate weather, then maybe every three years.
Let your vision be your guide. If your driveway is cracking or chipping before it is time for a new coat, then have it treated again.
*Note. Do not seal a new asphalt driveway. This material needs to cure for 6 months before treatment is applied.
How Often Should You Seal Concrete Driveways?
Concrete driveways are more durable (and more prevalent) than asphalt driveways, so they don't need to be sealed as often. Even in the harshest of conditions, our contractors tell us that every five years is the right amount, and even longer in moderate climates. However, just as with asphalt, let your vision be your guide. If you notice cracking, even very slight cracking, contact a NYC HANDYMAN who will be able to tell you if you are in immediate need of sealing or if the problem is a deeper issue.
What Does Driveway Sealing Cost?
Driveway sealing costs are going to be different all across the country because of the demand. In New Mexico, the average driveway sealing cost may be higher because the weather conditions don't demand that it to be done that often. In Upstate New York or northern Minnesota driveway sealing costs are likely to be lower because this needs to be done every year to some asphalt driveways.
While we can't really pin down your exact price, here are some general estimates that should help get you in the ballpark on the cost of driveway sealing.
First, if you don't already know the square footage of your driveway, measure it to find out. Most contractors are going to figure the job by the driveway size.
Now that you have the square footage, here are some figures. In the east, the average cost for driveway sealing is typically between $.10-$.16 per square foot. So for a 1000 sq. ft. driveway it will cost between $100-$160. In the upper-midwest, many driveway contractors charge per 1000 sq. ft., typically between $85-$100 per 1000 with a minimum charge of $100. Lucky is the homeowner with the 1990 square foot driveway.
Final Word
Most of the cost of sealing driveways is tied up in prep work. If your driveway is particularly dirty or covered in oil slicks, then it takes more effort and thus costs more to treat. The application is pretty standard. However, the pricing listed above will help you to figure out the range of what this task should cost. If you talk to a driveway contractor who is way over these amounts, get a few more estimates to see if that is the standard charge in your area.
