Driveway Sealing & Sealcoating

Why Sealcoating Matters in Ontario

Asphalt is flexible, durable, and handles heavy loads — but it has a weakness. The binder that holds asphalt together (liquid asphalt cement) breaks down when exposed to UV light, water, and road salt. In Ontario, your driveway gets all three, every year, for six months straight.

Sealcoating puts a protective barrier between the asphalt surface and the elements. It blocks UV oxidation, prevents water from seeping into the base through hairline cracks, and resists oil and chemical stains. A properly sealed driveway lasts 5 to 8 years longer than one that isn't maintained — and it looks significantly better the entire time.

Our Sealcoating Process

1. Surface Cleaning

We start by clearing the entire driveway — blowing off debris, removing weeds from cracks, and treating any oil spots with a commercial degreaser. Sealcoat won't bond properly to a dirty surface, so this step isn't optional.

2. Crack Repair

Cracks wider than 1/4 inch get filled with hot-pour rubberized crack filler before sealing. This is the most important prep step. If you seal over open cracks, water still gets in — you just can't see it anymore. The crack filler stays flexible through freeze-thaw cycles, expanding and contracting with the asphalt.

3. Sealcoat Application

We apply coal tar or asphalt emulsion sealer (depending on the product specified) in two coats using commercial spray equipment. Each coat is applied in a different direction — first pass lengthwise, second pass widthwise — for even coverage with no missed spots. We hand-brush edges, garage aprons, and tight areas.

4. Curing

The driveway needs 24 to 48 hours to cure before foot traffic and 72 hours before vehicle traffic. Weather matters — we schedule sealcoating on days with no rain in the forecast and temperatures above 15°C. Sealer applied in cold or damp conditions won't cure properly.

When to Sealcoat

• New driveways: Wait 6 to 12 months after paving. Fresh asphalt needs to cure and the oils need to oxidize before sealcoat will bond.
• Existing driveways: Every 3 to 5 years, depending on traffic and sun exposure. South-facing driveways degrade faster.
• Best time of year: June through September. The sealer needs warm temperatures and dry conditions to cure. We don't apply past mid-October — too risky with overnight temps.
• Signs it's time: Colour has faded from black to grey, surface feels rough and porous, small cracks are starting to web.

How Much Does Driveway Sealing Cost?

Professional sealcoating in the GTA typically runs $0.25 to $0.50 per square foot, or roughly $150 to $350 for a standard two-car driveway. The price depends on driveway size, condition, and how much crack repair is needed before sealing.

That's a fraction of the cost of asphalt repair or a full driveway replacement — which is exactly the point. Sealcoating is maintenance, not repair. It's cheaper to protect a driveway than to rebuild one.

DIY vs Professional Sealcoating

Home centers sell bucket sealers for $30-50. They work — sort of. The product is thinner, the application is uneven (brushes and squeegees don't match spray equipment), and most homeowners skip the crack repair. The result lasts 1-2 years instead of 3-5.

Professional sealcoating costs more upfront but lasts significantly longer per application. Over a 10-year span, professional sealing every 4 years costs roughly the same as DIY every 2 years — with a much better result.

Service Area

We provide driveway sealcoating across the GTA — Toronto, Vaughan, Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, North York, Scarborough, and Richmond Hill.