Neighbor called about my driveway

[debodun]

He said he was having a contractor come and give him an estimate to have his driveway sealcoated and wanted to know if I wanted him to talk to me (a friend of a friend deal). I said he could look at my driveway and write his estimate on a business card and leave it in the mailbox. I am not enthused about having my driveway done this time of year with cold weather setting in (I've heard it's best done in warm weather).

I also feel that sealcoating is like spraying over a car's rust spot. The damage is still there and will eventually resurface. What needs to be done is remove the old asphalt, regrade and put in all new asphalt. I did get estimates 2 years ago, but the lowest quite was for $12,000 for a 50 foot long and 20 foot wide driveway.

There goes 4 month's pension!

 

[Kaila]

I have no idea, of course,
But it just made me wonder if the contractor told your neighbor that he'd take some money off of his,

if neighbor got someone else on the street to either have driveway done too , or even to simply have an estimate on the same trip.

 

[Kaila]

I didn't mean that your neighbor doesn't mean well and hopes to help you out at the same time.
I would assume he means well.

 

[MACKTEXAS]

We had an asphalt drive done to a former house approximately 20 years ago. After getting the work done, THEN he suggests seal coating (for an additional price, of course). We said no. I no longer own that house, but drive by it now and then, and the drive still looks okay. I seriously doubt the new owners applied seal coat,

There are mixed answers as to whether or not seal coating is worth the money. Also, it depends on the present condition of your drive. If it has cracks or potholes, those should be repaired first and allowed to cure for a period of time before applying seal coat, or the seal coat expense is just a wasted effort.