Frequently asked questions

New asphalt needs 6-12 months to cure before the first sealcoat. After that, reseal every 2-3 years for residential driveways and every 1-2 years for high-traffic commercial lots in Smith and Wilson Counties. Sealcoating extends pavement life by blocking UV rays and water intrusion, which are the main causes of asphalt deterioration. If you skip sealcoating, expect your pavement to fail in 10-15 years instead of lasting 25-30.

The count is based on your lot size — one accessible space for every 25 total spaces, and at least one of every six accessible spaces has to be van-accessible with a wider layout. Van spaces need either an 11-foot stall with a 5-foot access aisle or an 8-foot stall with an 8-foot aisle, plus the wheelchair symbol and a mounted sign. Small lots under 25 spaces still need one van-accessible space. We measure, lay out, and stripe to the current federal standards, and we re-check the counts every time we restripe.

Not required, but it extends the life of the asphalt. Sealcoating protects against UV breakdown, water intrusion, and gas or oil spills. Premier Asphalt Repair recommends sealcoating every 2-3 years starting about a year after the driveway is paved. It's maintenance, not repair—it won't fix cracks or base problems, but it slows surface deterioration.

24-48 hours depending on temperature. Hot weather, you can drive on it sooner. Cooler weather or thick asphalt, wait the full 48 hours. The asphalt needs to cool and firm up enough to handle vehicle weight without deforming. Full cure takes about 30 days, but you're fine to use it after the first two days. Premier Asphalt Repair will tell you the exact timeline based on the weather when we pave.

The working window in Middle Tennessee runs roughly April through October. Sealer needs the temperature above 50°F and rising, with dry weather behind and ahead of it — mid-50s to 80s is the sweet spot. If you can pick your timing, early fall is smart: the surface goes into winter sealed, and winter is when pavement across Smith and Wilson Counties takes its worst beating. We freeze and thaw over and over from December through February, and every one of those cycles works water deeper into unsealed asphalt.

Anything from hairline up to about an inch wide gets routed clean and filled with hot-pour rubberized sealant — a seal that flexes with the pavement through the seasons. Wider than an inch, or areas with interconnected alligator cracking, is past what crack fill can hold; that section needs to be cut out and patched. The rule that matters: seal cracks before winter. Water that gets through a crack freezes in the base, and that's where potholes start.

Yes. Sealcoat won't bridge cracks wider than a quarter-inch. If you sealcoat over cracks, they'll still let water through and continue to widen. We crack-seal first, let the filler cure, then sealcoat. That way you're protecting the entire surface, not just the areas between cracks. It's part of the process for any sealcoating job we do across Smith and Wilson Counties.

Depends on the job—size, access, base condition, thickness. Residential driveways typically run $3-$7 per square foot installed, depending on whether we're doing full-depth new construction or an overlay. Parking lots vary with size and site conditions. Premier Asphalt Repair gives free estimates after looking at the site; too many variables to quote over the phone.

No. Sealer is water-based — rain hitting it before it cures washes it right off the pavement, and below about 50°F it won't cure properly and can peel. We need a dry surface, temperatures above 50 and rising, and a dry 24-hour forecast after application. That's why sealcoating season in Middle Tennessee runs April through October, and why we watch the radar before every job.