Connect to your favourite weather forecaster and look for the following conditions:
Category: Asphalt Product: Crack Sealer for Asphalt Driveways
Temperature Limitations: Asphalt based: Use above -40 C (-40 F) and below +76 C (+170 F) -- Thermoplastic based: use above +10 C (+50 F) below +76 C (+170 F)
Rain Limitations: No rain for 24 hours
Wind Limitations: n/a
Humidity Limitations: n/a
Continuous Conditions: 24 hours dry.
Comments: Various liquid and gunned products are available to fill small and large cracks in asphalt driveways. All of these products work and flow better at warm temperatures, but many asphalt based products will work even when it is very cold. Thermal plastic based products must be applied above +10 C (+50 F). Apply to a clean dry surface without frost or ice on the old asphalt.
Weather limitations on most renovation products can be located on the WEATHER tab above.
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APPLICATION / INSTALLATION DETAILS
Crack sealers and surface sealers are different products -- you fix the cracks first, then if you want, you can apply a surface sealer over the whole driveway.
Crack sealers come in various textures, from liquids poured from a bottle, to thick beads gunned from a caulking gun, to rope like ribbons pushed into place.
In all cases some preparation is necessary if you want the material to stay put.
Choose a material based on the width of the crack: liquid for very narrow cracks, gunned for caulking bead sized cracks and ropes or even compactable asphalt patching material for very large cracks.
Each has different temperature restraints so you may have to choose a material based on the season you are working in. You want the filling material to go at least as deep as the crack is wide, so if the crack is shallow, dig it out a bit -- if the crack is bottomless, use foam backer rod to limit the quantity required.
Cut away loose asphalt material from the edge. Sweep it thoroughly removing all loose dust and asphalt -- in fact the best prep is to hose and sweep it followed by the use of an air gun to dry it and blow away any dust.
Click here for more details on HOW TO FILL CRACKS OR HOLES IN A DRIVEWAY.