What is the value of a sealer on an asphalt driveway and can I put it on myself?
Sealant prolongs the life of the driveway, protecting it from cracking and crumbling due to heat, cold and water damage. In the long term it is cheaper to maintain the driveway rather than remove entire sections too damaged to repair. Asphalt sealant is necessary, but depending on the size of your driveway $1000 seems very steep for labor. Even the most expensive sealant costs only $20 for a 5 gallon bucket that covers 400 square feet and may last 10 years. The low end is about $8 per 5 gallon bucket also covering 400 sq ft, but it is lighter duty and may only last a single season. Two sights mention blackjack varities as the best sealant for asphalt: http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infdrivewaysealer/infdrivewaysealer.html htt
