On 5/28/2011 12:05 PM, bob haller wrote:
On May 28, 8:36 am, wrote:
On 5/27/2011 9:46 AM, Tony Miklos wrote:

This is not a do it yourself job, it's 1/10 mile long with a big parking
area up top. Everyone seems to use this emulsion that goes right on the
freshly washed and still wet blacktop. Guy in town who has the good name
and referrals uses it too, said there is also sand in it. I'm waiting
for an estimate.

What ever happened to tar and chip/oil and chip? It's still done on some
roads so I'd think it's good. Is it more costly? My drive is about 7 or
8 years old and I'm told I'm overdue for a coating. It does have a few
cracks but for the most part I've filled them with the same tar used to
waterproof below grade basement walls. Seems to work well and I added
layers of sand when the crack didn't want to fill up.

So what's the best and most cost effective process to keep my driveway
in good condition?

You could still DYI. You don't have to do it all at once.
I just had my drive resurfaced and I figure I can coat it myself next
year for about 25% of what installer has quoted if he were to do it next
year.

I got over 35 years out of the old drive by coating every several years.

Asphalt only consists of about 10% tar and rest is sand and rocks. If
enough moisture gets through or penetrates, freezing and thawing cause
deterioration. This is why coating helps preserve by keeping out moisture.

shop around for the 5 gallon pails of sealer, you may find its cheaper
to have a company do it since they buy sealer at a big discount in a
tanker truck

You might think that but guy that did my drive was saying something like
$400 to come back and seal it and last time I did it I paid less than
$100 for sealer. My back, not being as good as it used to be, I asked a
son over to help with the heavy lifting/pouring and it probably only
took us a little over an hour to do the drive. OP's drive sounds maybe
5X mine's but if he has the health and the time, he could DYI and save a
lot of money although proportionately less as transportation and time
costs are factored over a bigger job.