My 50 ft asphalt driveway is near end of life (30+ yrs). It has bulges, cracks, etc. Rather than pay the $3500+ for a complete new driveway, I've been nursing it along with crack fillers and sealers each summer. It gets me through the winter. And the condition hasn't changed much the past 3 yrs since I started doing this. Costs me about $50-$100 each year and a few hours of labor.
I've used the Aiport grade sealers (Latex-lite?) from Home Depot as well as the supposed super-duty Black Jack which is a sand-based gel. The BJ is a bit more difficult to put on because you have to wet the surface first, just right. The problem with that stuff is that it never cures hard. Any time I park my car on it, it leaves 4 sandy tread marks behind. So I'm not using that again. A bucket lasted me 2-3 applications.
I'd love to use the industrial/public works grade heated/rubberized crack fillers but they cost a fortune at the retail outlets, and in very small quantity. I probably need about 150-200 lineal feet of crack filler, same stuff they use on highways and parking lots. I invited a local company to bid to fill the cracks but they said it was a waste of money and they would only replace my driveway. So it looks like I will continue to repair it on my own until a big chunk breaks loose at some point. For now, it's all connected and quite drivable and safe.
So what reasonably priced products, or brands, have others had luck with? Ideally, things that last more than a season in Connecticut. We're lucky that we get more rain than snow in the winter. Still, it takes a good pounding to the asphalt. I have a feeling everything you can get at the big box stores is just temporary junk that won't last past 1-2 winter season.
I've used the Aiport grade sealers (Latex-lite?) from Home Depot as well as the supposed super-duty Black Jack which is a sand-based gel. The BJ is a bit more difficult to put on because you have to wet the surface first, just right. The problem with that stuff is that it never cures hard. Any time I park my car on it, it leaves 4 sandy tread marks behind. So I'm not using that again. A bucket lasted me 2-3 applications.
I'd love to use the industrial/public works grade heated/rubberized crack fillers but they cost a fortune at the retail outlets, and in very small quantity. I probably need about 150-200 lineal feet of crack filler, same stuff they use on highways and parking lots. I invited a local company to bid to fill the cracks but they said it was a waste of money and they would only replace my driveway. So it looks like I will continue to repair it on my own until a big chunk breaks loose at some point. For now, it's all connected and quite drivable and safe.
So what reasonably priced products, or brands, have others had luck with? Ideally, things that last more than a season in Connecticut. We're lucky that we get more rain than snow in the winter. Still, it takes a good pounding to the asphalt. I have a feeling everything you can get at the big box stores is just temporary junk that won't last past 1-2 winter season.