|
Full List of FAQ's
- Why should I do it myself rather than hire a contractor?
- I recently had my driveway paved, how long should I wait before sealing?
- I have put the sealer down too thick and am getting "mud cracks"...what do I do?
- I have purchased some 5 gallon Latexite pails and it's too late in the season to seal my driveway ... i.e. it's too cold outside. Can I store the sealer so it will be good to use in the spring?
- What temperature is best for sealing?
- I have a concrete strip running through my driveway... how do I make sure not to get sealer on the cement when I seal the driveway?
- What problems are "Super Patch" and "Trowel Patch" used for?
- What's the best way to fix a crack permanently and make my driveway look new again?
- How do I remove grass from my driveway cracks?
- I am using the squeegee as directed to seal my driveway but am not able to get the edges too well with it. What do you recommend?
- Is there an easy way to mix the 5 gallon pails?
- How many pails of sealer do I need for my driveway?
- What tool do I use to seal my driveway?
- How long should I wait before applying a second coat?
- Why are two thin coats better than one thick coat?
- I have spilled sealer on an area that I shouldn't have. What is the best way to clean it up?
- My cat/dog has walked through a recently coated driveway... what should I do?
- I have a lot of moss growing in the shady edges of the driveway. What is the recommended approach to prep these sections before sealing?
- I washed my clothes after sealing my driveway as some of the sealer got on my jeans and shirt. Some of the sealer came off in the dryer and has adhered to the sides of the dryer. What can I use to remove it?
- Why should I do it myself rather than hire a contractor?
The short answer is QUALITY -- from both a product and application standpoint. On the product front, contractors use a "bulk" product and have the ability to water the product down resulting in much less "good stuff" on your driveway. With regards to application, many contractors spray the sealer down which leaves it sitting on top whereas a homeowner will (should) squeegee the sealer on which properly fills in the pores and last longer.
- I recently had my driveway paved, how long should I wait before sealing?
We recommend waiting at least 6 months prior to sealing to allow the natural distillates to emit from
the blacktop. If your driveway beads up when water is sprayed on it ... your driveway is not ready yet.
- I have put the sealer down too thick and am getting "mud cracks"...what do I do?
 Well, #1 we strongly recommend using the proper tool...our 18" Seal Right Squeegee and bearing down on it while applying as you want to leave a thin coat.
Not applying enough pressure (especially on rough pavement) or using the wrong tool can result in putting it down too thick which may result in tracking.
What you can do is pour a little water onto the mud cracked area right away and with a push broom work out those thick areas.
- I have purchased some 5gallon Latexite pails and it's too late in the season to seal my driveway ... i.e. it's too cold outside. Can I store the sealer so it will be good to use in the spring?
Sealer will be fine in the spring AS LONG AS it doesn't freeze. Sealer is water based, so if it freezes, it will be ruined. Store it in a place that won't freeze, put a towel down and keep them stored upside down. This will make it easier to stir in the spring!
- What temperature is best for sealing?
For the sealers to adhere, the asphalt temperature must be 55 degrees F and rising. Typically March through early October are prime sealing days. Though most of us wait until fall to seal the driveway, you don't have to. Once the temperature starts to get chilly and dip below 50 degrees F at night it is too late to seal, and the sealer will not adhere properly -- it may peel.
- I have a concrete strip running through my driveway... how do I make sure not to get sealer on the cement when I seal the driveway?
 Latexite driveway sealers are meant only for asphalt driveways ... not concrete (portland cement). With that said, many driveways have a concrete sidewalk that runs through their driveway. There are a couple simple steps to take prior to sealing which will ensure a clean, professional job and allow you to seal without getting any Latexite on the concrete.
We recommend you first "edge" the driveway by using a household broom. You can dip the broom in the pail of sealer and edge 6" from the sidewalk (or bricks, etc). Another think you can do is take masking tape and run it along the entire outer edge of the concrete. Do 2 or 3 passes so you have 4 to 5 inches of a border. Once you are done sealing, simply remove the tape and your concrete should not have any spills on it! If you still want more protection, simply lay a drop cloth down and tape it down as well. Also, don't forget that your shoes will have wet sealer on
them, so DON'T step on the concrete.
- What problems are "Super Patch" and "Trowel Patch" used for?
"Super Patch" is used for areas of major repair. This product works on compaction, and works best when the troubled area has clearly defined side walls to push against. Once the product is properly compacted "Super Patch" will immediately set up.
- Tricks to tamping -- Use anything with a flat hard surface and some weight to it: patio brick, cinder block, piece of metal, 2 X 4 and a hammer, 2 X 6 and drive over it with your car.
- Drying Tip: If you want to speed up the drying / curing time, you can lightly sprinkle / dust the patched area with sand or portland cement.
"Trowel Patch" is used for less severe areas of repair. This product is ideal for depressions, cracks, and areas of alligation (rough areas). This product should be applied no thicker than 1/2" lifts at a time. Two to three lifts might be necessary to fill troubled areas - make sure each lift has fully set up prior to applying another coat.
- What's the best way to fix a crack permanently and make my driveway look new again?
The only permanent crack filler is "Pli-Stix" or "Crack-Stix" (same product, just different lengths) and can be purchased on our website. We recommend cleaning out the crack with a screwdriver and whiskbroom. Next, fill the crack with Pli-Stix (pushing it in the crack using a screwdriver). LEAVE ABOUT ¼" BELOW THE SURFACE -- DON'T FILL THE CRACK TO THE TOP. After you've melted the Pli-Stix into the crack let it set up for a ½ hour or so and then it is ready to be troweled over with Latexite Trowel Patch. Once this sets up in about 2-4 hours you are ready to seal over it! Making it look like there was never a crack and good as new!
So remember, Pli-Stix, Trowel Patch, then seal...
- How do I remove grass from my driveway cracks?
Pull and/or scrape out the weeds with a
screwdriver and clean crack with whiskbroom. You may also purchase weed
killer at your local home center Ortho Weed Killer does a great job but
you will have to wait for weeds to die. Another solution, believe it or
not, is to put table salt in the cracks... within a couple of days the grass
should be gone.
- I am using the squeegee as directed to seal my driveway but am not able to get the edges too well with it. What do you recommend?
If you are not comfortable using a squeegee for the edges, or for areas that may be bordered by bricks or pavers, we recommend using a broom or wallpaper brush. You can do the edge the entire driveway first and then seal the driveway up to where you've edged in. Also, you can tape off any bricks you have to make sure no sealer is splashed up on them!
- Is there an easy way to mix the 5 gallon pails?
 Flip over the pail at least 24 hours prior to using the product. (Carefully inspect the lid to insure it is secure before turning over).
- "Batch" or "box" the pails by having an empty bucket there and mixing them all back and forth. This will ensure uniform consistency as sometimes you purchase a pail that may be older or from a different batch.
- Latexite® now makes it easy for you to mix driveway sealer with
it's NEW Driveway Sealer Mix KitTM!
It's easy to use, will ensure a consistent batch and it's re-usable! It
also works with paint, joint compounds, mortar mix ... you name it. Just
wash it off and re-use. Oh, it comes with a patented anti-spill skirt so
you stay clean.
- How many pails of sealer do I need for my driveway?
COVERAGE - The application rate of driveway coatings is very important. If you don't use enough, you'll have untreated areas of the driveway.
If you use too much, the sealer will never "set up" / cure properly and the excess may track into your home.
It is recommended that you spread a thin layer of sealer (using steady down-pressure on the squeegee during application),
let it cure overnight. Allow it to cure at least 24hours prior to car traffic (you can walk on it after a couple of hours on a nice day).
Please allow overnight to dry/cure prior to applying a 2nd coat. (Note: For the warranty to be valid a 2nd coat is required on some of our
5gal products - see package).
Coverage rates will vary by sealer and by the condition of your driveway. Remember, a driveway that has a lot of pores and hasn't
been sealed in a while will be thirsty and will require more sealer.
It is important to remember that you don't want to run short when sealing the driveway. Make sure you purchase enough sealer because
if you stop to take a break or run out of sealer and have to buy more you may get different shades when the driveway dries. This is
because the pavement and outdoor temp were different when you did the driveway... but don't worry: the driveway should blend to one
uniform color in a week or two. If it doesn't, let us know and we'll help you out.
Generally speaking, here is a good guide for how many 5 gallon pails to buy:
- For a rough, porous driveway with small cracks and voids:
- 250 - 400 sq. ft. per 5-gallon pail, per coat. The second coat will require about 1/3 less product (see example below).
- For a smooth, previously sealed driveway:
- 400-600 sq. ft. per 5-gallon pail, per coat.
For example, if your driveway is 10 ft wide x 60 ft long = 600 sq ft. If the driveway is in rough condition you would need 2 pails for the first coat and 1 pail for the second coat: FOR A TOTAL OF 3 PAILS.
 What tool do I use to seal my driveway?
The best applicator for a driveway is a squeegee. Brushes and rollers are simply the wrong tool for the job as they do not spread the sealer evenly nor do they properly fill the pores of your asphalt like a squeegee does. (Plus, the use of a roller voids our warranty!) If you want to edge the driveway first, you may do so with a paint brush. Latexite has designed a squeegee, the Latexite 18" Seal-Right Squeegee, to make the job for you easier. It will save time and effort and can be washed off and re-used again!
- How long should I wait before applying a second coat?
We recommend waiting until the first coat is fully dry / cured. It is best to give it 24 hours so that all areas, including the hairline cracks that get filled, are fully dry. If the driveway has been sealed early in the morning and the entire driveway is fully dry, you may put a second coat on later in the day.
- Why are two thin coats better than one thick coat?
Applying two coats of Latexite® will dry and cure much better than one thick coat. All Latexite®sealers are water based, which "cure" via evaporation. A thin coat will evaporate much faster than a thick coat will. If you apply one thick coat, you are "locking in" that initial coat and the sealer will hold water which causes tracking.
- I have spilled sealer on an area that I shouldn't have. What is the best way to clean it up?
All of our driveway sealers will wash off with soap and water when the sealer is still wet. However, if it has dried there are a couple of ways to clean it up. First, any high performance cleaner that contains citrus does a good job. Second, a product called, "Solvall" seems to work well on many different surfaces. They can be reached at 1-800-724-7667 or www.emulso.com. They can UPS product to you.
- My cat/dog has walked through a recently coated driveway... what should I do?
All Latexite products are non-hazardous. If the sealer is still wet, rinse your pet's paws off immediately using water. If the driveway sealer has dried on their paws it will not track, and it will eventually wear off.
- I have a lot of moss growing in the shady edges of the driveway. What is the recommended approach to prep these sections before sealing?
We recommend using a powerwasher that containts a mix of 50% water and 50% bleach - this will do the trick!
- I washed my clothes after sealing my driveway as some of the sealer got on my jeans and shirt. Some of the sealer came off in the dryer and has adhered
to the sides of the dryer. What can I use to remove it?
We recommend first scraping off any heavier residue off the sides of the dryer. Once you have done this you can get any excess off using a material called, "Un-Du". It is available to order by either visiting their site at: www.un-du.com or calling 952-929-9300.
|
