FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: How often should I get my driveway sealed?
A: It is recommended that you reseal your driveway once every 2-3 years.Â
Q: The difference between sealers?
A: The driveway sealants that you can buy off the shelf are acyric or âwater basedâ they act as more of a paint on the asphalt, they coat the driveway and trap heat in between the sealant and asphalt causing the sealant to chip or worse causing damage and cracks to the asphalt surface.
We use an oil based treatment penetrates the asphalt. Because the sealant travels deeper into your asphalt, replacing the asphaltene that been oxidized by the elements it increase the elasticity of the driveway thus preventing further cracking.
Q: Once the driveway sealing is completed, how long do I have to wait for it to dry?
A: We recommend staying off the asphalt for 24-36 hours weather permitting, weâll be sure to let you know based on your specific situation.
Q: What forms of payment do you accept?
A: We accept, cash, cheque, debit, credit, and email transfer.
Q: What if it rains on the day Iâm scheduled for a driveway seal service?
A: We may be late, or may have to reschedule depending on the time and volume of precipitation. As long as the asphalt is dry we can apply the sealant, it can rain within minutes of completing the job and it would have no effect as itâs an oil based sealant. Having said the asphalt must be completely dry during the application to process for the sealant to penetrate. We will do our best to let you know ahead of time as we are constantly monitoring the weather.
Q: What is the ideal temperature for driveway sealing?
A: The ideal temperature for sealcoating is 10-26 degrees Celsius, curing times may be longer on higher days however it is possible to seal up to 35 degrees.Â
Q: What kind of prep work is required prior to sealing?
A: Before filling the cracks and sealing the driveway, the surface will need to be clean and free of any loose debris. We will remove weeds (however we do not edge the lawn) we leave that up to the customer to do prior to sealing, if thatâs something they want done. We first clean the driveway with blowers and a broom if necessary, prep/protect any hardscape if necessary, then fill the cracks followed by a seal.
Q: When is the best time to get my driveway sealed?
A: Sealing is best done between April and September.
Q: When should I get my cracks sealed on my driveway?
A: It is best to have the cracks sealed in the same season in which you notice them. If they go unsealed, moisture will likely penetrate, widening the crack and washing out subgrade leading to pooling of water and eventually potholes.
Q: Is the driveway sealant hot or cold?
A: The sealant is slightly warmer then atmospheric temperature when applied.
Q: How often should cracks be sealed?
A: Crack sealing is vital to the lifespan of your asphalt driveway. Keeping cracks sealed up from moisture is extremely important and is ultimately a process that should be done every year. As a matter of fact, the best time to do this is in the fall when cracks are opened up the most. This will help minimize the amount of moisture entering the cracks during those freeze and thaw cycles in the winter.
In the summer, when the cracks expand, the crack sealer then gets squeezed tightly keeping rain water from entering those cracks. This will help extend the life of your asphalt driveway tremendously.
Q: If the scheduled date changes, how will i know?
A: Maven PM keeps staff on call 24-hours per day to focus on customer service.Â
If weather or other variables affect your scheduled date, one of our dedicated scheduling coordinators will contact you to discuss alternate dates.Â
Q: What time will the crew arrive?
A: Each driveway is different, some require more attention than others, and with our crews sealing several driveways per day, it is difficult to determine when they will arrive at your driveway. However, please feel free to call 613-291-0000 to get an update of the crewâs progress to help gauge their arrival time.
Q: What about protecting my garage door?
A: We have various methods we implement to protect hardscape and garage doors, besides utilizing qualified operators we implement tape and cutting boards into the application process when needed.
Q: When I park on my driveway, will tire marks appear?
A: While the sealcoat takes time to fully cure, tire marks may sometimes appear 1 to 2 weeks after the sealcoat is applied, especially during humid summer months. After the sealcoat cures fully, the tire marks will disappear. (2-3 weeks).
Q: Sometimes the sealcoat dries grey or brown. Why does this happen?
A: Similar to any sprayed or liquid-based coating, the sun helps the sealant dry. In areas of shade, such as under a tree, the sealcoat may dry differently than the rest of the driveway, over 2-3 weeks the sealcoat will dry to a uniform appearance and color.
Q: Why do the edges of the driveway appear different?
A: In order to avoid overspray and provide the neatest job possible, our operators are trained to move with caution, (which oftentimes is slower) around garages and walls, as these areas must be carefully sprayed to avoid overspray. Within 3-4 days the appearance will become uniform and the difference will not be noticeable.
Q: How is the sealant applied to the driveway?
A: Maven PM crews use a spray application of Blackmac, an oil based sealant.Â
Q: What about the Maven PM lawn bag signs? What to do with them?
A: Often times, the Maven PM crew will leave a bag sign on the lawn near the end of the driveway, as we love to show our work off. Leaving these signs up means we can keep our costs down, which we pass along to you in our competitive pricing. Please leave these signs up as long as you like, and we appreciate your cooperation in showing off our work and your driveway! If youâd prefer not to have the sign up simply throw it in the waste bin.
Q: Do you offer group deals for multiple neighbors in the same neighborhood?
A: Absolutely! With the increasing cost of gas and labor, we can conserve time and money by servicing multiple neighbors on the same day so therefore we can pass along savings to you and your neighbours. Call us at 613-291-0000 for more details, Neighborhood organizers get very special treatment!
Q: Will the sealant fill in spiderweb cracks and/or surface cracks?
A: The short answer is No. Sealant is not a âleveling agentâ. The sealant may help fill in small voids and coat any imperfections, but the imperfections may still be visible after application. Spiderweb cracks are very common here in Canada, without cutting out the damaged asphalt and replacing it, there is nothing that can or should be done to eliminate the shallow surface flaws in your asphalt.
Quite often, due to the deep, rich, black finish of a new sealcoat, the spider cracks will initially appear more noticeable than previously.
Q: Do I need to be home for my sealing appointment?
A: No, we understand youâll to be at work, just as we are! if you are going to be out at the time or day of your scheduled sealing appointment, we ask that any vehicles or other large objects be removed from the driveway. While we prefer payment upon job completion, we will leave an invoice and payment instructions at the door if you are not home.
Q: When should I consider getting a hot asphalt ramp installed?
A: It is recommended to begin inquiring about installing a ramp once the asphalt along the garage lip/ foundation of your home has sunken beyond 1.5 inches.
Q: What are the benefits of installing a hot asphalt ramp?
A: There are various benefits of installing a hot asphalt ramp, including; sloping water away from the foundation to protect from water damage, a ramp also provides a smooth entrance into the garage for your vehicle.
Q: Can you fix sunken spots on my asphalt?
A: Oftentimes, homeowners deal with asphalt sinking in spots due to cars or other equipment such as trailers, motorcycles etc. This can be a headache for the homeowner, but good news! You don't have to spend thousands to repave! Here at Maven Pm we specialize in hot asphalt patches, in most cases, our Maven PM asphalt crew can fix a sunken area very easily by cutting out the damaged area and replacing it with brand new asphalt, for more information on how we can help you, contact us at 613-291-0000.