Your driveway takes a beating under the Southern California sun, and eventually, the pavement starts showing its age. When the surface gets faded or hairline cracks start popping up, property owners have a decision to make. Do you apply a preventative coat of seal, or are you looking at a full resurfacing job for your asphalt?
Understanding Sealcoating
Sealcoating is pure maintenance. Sealcoating is a liquid barrier Inglewood Asphalt Construction rolls or sprays over sound asphalt to block out UV rays, oil leaks, and moisture. Think of it like sunscreen for your pavement. Here in Inglewood, where the heat bakes down on residential streets for months on end, that intense sun oxidizes the binder in the asphalt and turns the asphalt brittle.
If your driveway is relatively new and only has minor surface fading or very shallow, hairline cracks, sealcoating is the best option. Sealcoating costs significantly less, takes only 1 to 2 days to cure, and brings back that deep black look that makes the whole property look clean. But do not expect sealcoating to fix structural damage. If you have potholes or cracks wide enough to swallow a quarter, sealcoating will not save the pavement.
When Resurfacing Makes Sense
Resurfacing steps things up a notch. Resurfacing is where Inglewood Asphalt Construction mills off the damaged top layer or lays a fresh structural layer of hot-mix asphalt right over the old base, provided that base is still stable. Resurfacing is more invasive and costs more than a simple sealcoat, but resurfacing completely resets the clock on a worn-out surface.
Inglewood Asphalt Construction often sees older residential properties around Morningside Park with driveways that have been neglected too long for a simple coat of sealant. If the cracking is widespread or starting to look like alligator skin, you need an option that adds physical thickness and structural integrity back to the ground.
Breaking Down the Comparison
Cost is usually the first thing homeowners ask about. Sealcoating is cheap insurance, running a fraction of the price of resurfacing. Asphalt resurfacing requires heavy equipment, more material, and labor-intensive prep work, making resurfacing a major investment.
Durability depends entirely on your starting point. A good sealcoat lasts about 2 to 3 years before the asphalt needs another round. Asphalt resurfacing, on the other hand, can easily give you another decade or more of solid performance if you maintain the asphalt properly.
Making the Call for Inglewood Conditions
Look closely at your pavement before you call a contractor. If the asphalt is structurally sound underneath and just looks tired and gray from the coastal air and inland heat, save your cash and schedule a sealcoat. If water is pooling, alligator cracking is spreading, or the edges are breaking apart, you have passed the point of no return for sealants. Inglewood Asphalt Construction provides Asphalt Resurfacing services for homes and businesses in Inglewood.