A driveway cannot be sealed, however, until it has been properly cured and firm. This can take from 30 days to a year. There are two simple tests you can perform to see if your driveway is ready for Durable Sealcoat. Pour clean water on your driveway. If an oily film appears in the water then the pavement is not sufficiently cured. To test firmness press a screwdriver into the asphalt surface. If you are able to make a depression in the pavement the surface is not firm enough.

Just as you paint the dap-boards on a new house to seal up and protect the structure, sealcoating a sound pavement will cause it to have a much longer life than that of an unsealed pavement. Even on a weak pavement, sealcoating will preserve the elastic and adhesive characteristics of the asphaltic binder and seal out the water and oxidizing effects of the sun, salts and petroleum spillage. This coating preserves the pavement surface, and the asphaltic and aggregate layers will remain dry and in place.

The process of deterioration begins as soon as the asphalt is put down. In normal conditions after 3-5 years major deterioration is taking place.  A good asphalt pavement seldom wears out; it is destroyed by external factors including:

Water	• Penetrates Asphalt • Destroys Base
Sunlight	• Breaks Down the Liquid Asphalt that Holds the Aggregate Together • Causes Raveling and Hairline Cracks
Spills	• Gas & Oil Spots Soften the Asphalt