Neighbor called about my driveway

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
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!
 

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.
 
Guys who come around and leave cards like that are very likely fly-by-night sketchy operations. Don't trust them.
They just sweep your driveway, and then spray on a thin watered-down coat of sealer that is short-lived.
Use an established driveway sealer company in your area, and make sure they use a quality product and apply it with a squeegee/broom (Not a spray on).

Ensure that the driveway cracks are repaired first and driveway is clean and prepped. Make sure the weather is a warmer day and no inclement weather for 48 hrs. Don't buy or use a cheap sealer. Use a quality one like Henry's Drive Max 700, or Drive Max 1000. They are an emulsified sealer and carry a good warranty. Don't drive on it until dry, time depends on temperature.
 
When he rang my doorbell (didn't just leave the estimate as I requested), I listened politely then asked if he warrantied his work. He actually laughed! He said "No warranty on your driveway." I appreciated his honesty, but did not imbue me with confidence in his work.

cracks1.jpg
 
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debodun said:
When he rang my doorbell (didn't just leave the estimate as I requested), I listed politely then asked if he warrantied his work. He actually laughed! He said "No warranty on your driveway." I appreciated his honesty, but did not imbue me with confidence in his work.

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He laughed. These are great jobs for con men. He could appear with any liquid and spread it around. No warranty, no nothing really.

Edited to add this: If those are weeds, spray with weed killer or they will break up your drive.
 
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I've been here long enough to know Deb inherited a home that she sold because she let it deteriorate to the point that selling was her best option. Other pics she has posted show her deck deteriorating. It's a choice maintain or let it deteriorate.
 
debodun said:
When he rang my doorbell (didn't just leave the estimate as I requested), I listed politely then asked if he warrantied his work. He actually laughed! He said "No warranty on your driveway." I appreciated his honesty, but did not imbue me with confidence in his work.

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I could understand asking about a warranty of some sort from a paving company for a new driveway but i’m curious as to what type of warranty you would expect when the driveway is already in need of replacement.
 
We have con artists who say they often have leftover sealer at the end of the day and will do your driveway for a lower rate. It’s just junk. Your neighbour, although he has good intentions, may have made an agreement with some group like that.
 
Knight said:
It's a choice maintain or let it deteriorate.
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I view home maintenance like dental work. Unpleasant but necessary. And neither improve or fix themselves over time.

Ignore dental cleanings or cavities because you don't want to deal with a 40 minute dentist visit or spending $100-$200, and before you know it you're looking at a crown requiring at least two one-hour visits and a thousand dollars or more.
 
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About a year ago Deb showed pics of her driveway that needed repair. Her bid to do a complete long term repair was 12k.

This recent post is more about complaining than about the actual need to get the driveway repaired. That 12k bid last year will probably be more now.

Delay like you pointed out costs in the long run.
 
Knight said:
About a year ago Deb showed pics of her driveway that needed repair. Her bid to do a complete long term repair was 12k.

This recent post is more about complaining than about the actual need to get the driveway repaired. That 12k bid last year will probably be more now.

Delay like you pointed out costs in the long run.
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Found the pics -> here. Doesn't look good, but maybe it's not too much worse 1½ years later.
I have a concrete drive that had simlar or worse cracks when I bought the house years ago. Seasonal drought(s) have made them worse. If I was younger, I might consider a new drive, but not at this point in time.
 
My late husband had an asphalt/sealing company and he really stressed to people to have the drives sealed during hotter months
so the sealant would "cure" properly and in less time. Not sure if this is true with maybe new updates of sealant. His competitors
told him he was cutting himself out of work stressing that , as fall projects weaken faster and need done more often.
My late hubby thought his reputation for being an honest company would bring more return customers. He was right and word of mouth
got around and soon he was plenty busy.
 

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