Sealcoat Brush or Spray? Does it Even Matter?
Good, better, best.
Applying sealer to your driveway is both an aesthetic and strengthening improvement no matter what method you use. There are, however, different methods used by contractors to apply the sealer. At Toothy Sealcoating we recognize that each method has its strengths and choose to use a combination of methods to give our customers the very best protection possible. This is especially important given the wide range of temperatures and weather events we experience here in Maine.
Spraying a driveway with sealer from above is economical from the perspective of the contractor, as the amount of sealer required to thinly coat the surface of your driveway can be controlled via pressure, output, and strokes of the applicator wand. It also covers large areas much more quickly than a brush. This is why many contractors prefer this method. More time saved, less sealer used, more $$$ in their pocket. This method applies a relatively consistent thickness over the entire surface and doesn’t “flood” the valleys, resulting in what looks more like a paint job, as all the bumpy aggregate of your driveway is still visible through the coating.
Brushing pavement surfaces will push more sealer deep into the micro-holes of the asphalt and fill the lower lying areas between your aggregate stone, resulting in better penetration, adhesion, and will create a smoother surface as the lower portions are raised via filling with sealer. Where spraying is like using a spray-on sunscreen, brushing is like massaging a lotion into your skin. It will hold up longer and will penetrate deeper. Contractors who opt for this method of application generally charge more, as more sealer is used to fill the “valleys” and it is more time consuming.
So, if spraying is good, and brushing is better… what is the BEST way to seal a driveway? Well, if you ask us we would say it’s a combination of both! By brushing the first coat, we are able to fill the lower portions and force the material deeper into the surface to promote a stronger bond at a micro level. By spraying the second coat, we are able to add additional thickness across the sealer surface and leave behind a smooth matte finish free of brush strokes. To visualize a comparison of these methods here is an illustration we made (say what you will about Microsoft Paint, but I can’t think of a more user-friendly tool!):
Spray, brush, and brush/spray
In the above diagram, figure A represents a driveway that has been sprayed. Note the black line over the gray asphalt. It provides an even coating regardless of the height of the aggregate. Figure B has less sealer on the high portions, but is pushed downward into the low-lying areas to create a smoother surface. Figure C has been brushed to fill in the low-lying areas, and has another layer sprayed over the top for added protection and smoothness of finish. (Keep in mind this diagram is for illustrative purposes and no driveway can ever be this flat or smooth.)
As in many things in life, there are good ways to do things, better ways, and the BEST way. Its our pursuit of finding the best way to serve our customers and provide the highest quality product possible that separates Toothy Sealcoating from our competitors. We hope you’ll be as excited with the results as us!
