About Sarah Leech Expertise Our family asphalt business has been proudly installing and sealcoating driveways and commercial parking lots for over 40 years. I welcome any and all questions about the asphalt sealcoating and/or asphalt paving of your driveway and/or parking lot. How to's for do it yourself sealcoaters, professional advice for your commercial parking lots, what products and tools to use; and what not to use. Tips, tricks and general useful knowledge in an area where most people don't know where to look for help!
Experience I grew up in the family business of asphalt paving. For 11 years I was the VP of the family asphalt business and now at 34, I own my own company, ASAP Asphalt Sealing And Paving Co. Currently, ASAP Asphalt is one of the largest asphalt sealcoating companies in Western PA!
Organizations Peters Township Chamber of Commerce
Building Trades Association
Education/Credentials Graduated from Peters Township High School 1992
BA in Psychology from Slippery Rock University 1997
National Pavement Expo Convention 2006
Awards and Honors Member of Manchester Who's Who
Past/Present Clients Babies-R-Us
The Home Depot,
Liberty Mutual,
Consol Development,
PNC Bank,
Kohl's,
Sheraton,
Red Roof Inn,
Michael's,
Question I had my driveway repaved and expanded last spring. Shortly thereafter, the aggregate started coming up from the driveway. No cracks, just the little stones coming up. Particularly in areas that get most traffic - where you turn wheels of car to line up with garage, etc. I can take my blower and make a pile of small stones that will fill half a 5 gallon bucket ever couple of months. I've contacted the contractor multiple times - unfortunately has proven to be the kind that gives contractors a bad name. A local seal coat contractor mentioned that a certain reddish asphalt mix from a local plant (which he thinks I have) has been giving lots of problems in the area. Currently the surface is rough in areas. Not really alligatored because they are no cracks per se, just areas where smallish aggregate has come up and larger particles are still bound. What is the best remedy? Seal coat? Latex? Brush or spray? Thanks for any advice.
Answer Hi Eugene,
Probably not the answer you are looking for, but I am not keen on the sealcoating over aggregate that is loose. You should wait until all of the loose stuff comes up before you sealcoat, or it will be a royal mess.
Lots of factors could contribute to the aggregate spalling off: the mix, the weather when installed, the heat (or lack of) in the asphalt, the time it was rolled, etc.
The best solution is to have another layer of asphalt installed over the existing, because if the aggregate is spalling off now--sealer will not hold it together.
It's a shame that your contractor will not call you back and you are probably past the warranty period now (if he even gave you one in the first place). Of course, you could take further action, but who's to say that you would get anywhere with that.
If you decide to wait until all the loose aggregate is gone (which may never happen)--I would recommend a SPRAY coat of asphalt sealer, as a brush coat would just drum up more loose aggregate.
I would find a sealcoater in the area that you trust and have him keep an eye on the asphalt, and recommend when you should seal. Unless you decide to install another layer. If you install another layer--you know now what things to look for in a good contractor. And don't sealcoat your new asphalt for a year after it's installed.
Thanks Eugene, and good luck to you!
Sarah Leech
ASAP Asphalt Sealing And Paving
"We're Kickin' Asphalt!"
