Sealcoating in Naperville, IL

Naperville Asphalt Driveway seals asphalt driveways for homes across Naperville. We clean the driveway, fill the cracks and then spread a thin coat of sealer over the whole surface.

What sealcoat is

The U.S. Geological Survey describes sealcoat as the black liquid put on many asphalt parking lots, driveways and playgrounds to protect the asphalt and improve how it looks.

The USGS says most sealcoat products are made one of two ways, with coal tar or with an asphalt base. It also says that once sealcoat dries, it slowly wears down to a powder and becomes part of the dust on the driveway. So we check how worn your old coat is before we quote.

How we seal a driveway

We start by cleaning off the dirt and loose stones. Then we fill the cracks, because the Federal Highway Administration says cracks need sealing at the right intervals to stop surface water getting in. If the driveway has holes or soft spots, we fix those first with asphalt driveway repair or pothole repair.

Once the surface is clean and the cracks are filled, we spread the sealer in an even coat from the garage to the street. We block the driveway off until it has dried.

Why we use an asphalt-based sealer

The USGS says coal tar and coal-tar pitch, both used in some sealcoat products, are classed as known human carcinogens. It says coal-tar sealcoat usually holds about 1,000 times more PAHs than sealcoat with an asphalt base. PAHs are a group of chemicals that the USGS says are made by heating or burning material that contains carbon. It calls coal-tar sealcoat a potent source of PAH pollution and a potential concern for human health and aquatic life.

The USGS also says worn bits of coal-tar sealcoat get carried off the pavement by rain, wind, tires and even our feet. It says PAHs from coal-tar sealcoat end up in house dust, and that this matters most for small children, who spend time on the floor and put their hands and other things in their mouths.

For those reasons, we only use asphalt-based sealer on Naperville driveways.

Coal tar rules near Naperville

The Illinois Department of Public Health says at least 16 towns in Illinois have banned the use of coal-tar sealers, including Evanston, South Barrington, Riverwoods and Winnetka.

Warrenville is one of the towns we cover, and it has its own rule. The City of Warrenville says its City Code bans selling and using coal-tar pavement sealers, and that the ban covers homeowners, business owners, HOAs and contractors. If you live in Warrenville, the city tells you to ask any sealing company what sealer it uses and whether it is licensed with the city.

How to check what's in a sealer

The Illinois Department of Public Health says the main place to find out what a sealer is made of is its safety data sheet. It says the label on the container can tell you more. We'll show you the safety data sheet for the sealer we use, so you can read it yourself.

The department lists words that show a product has coal tar in it, such as coal tar, refined coal tar, refined tar, coal tar pitch volatiles, RT-12 and tar. If we see any of those on a label, we don't use that product.

What to get in writing

Ask for these in writing, whoever you hire:

• The name of the sealer, and whether it is asphalt-based or coal tar.
• Whether cleaning the driveway and filling the cracks are in the price.
• How many coats go on.
• Whether the part of the driveway by the street is included.
• How long you need to keep cars and people off it.

Questions about sealcoating in Naperville

Get a quote for sealcoating

Call us, or send the quote form with your ZIP code and a few words about your driveway. We'll come out, check the cracks and the surface, and give you a written quote. To see the other work we do, go to the Naperville Asphalt Driveway home page.