Blog - Toothy Sealcoating

How Sealcoating Protects Driveways in South Portland

Fri, 29 May 2026 16:45:00 GMT

How Sealcoating Protects Driveways in South Portland

Sealcoating in South Portland, Maine creates a protective barrier that shields asphalt from water penetration, UV exposure, salt, and freeze-thaw cycles common in coastal New England climates. This preventative treatment restores the rich black appearance of your driveway while extending its lifespan and delaying expensive repairs. When you search for asphalt maintenance near me, you'll find that regular sealcoating is one of the most cost-effective ways to preserve your pavement investment.

What Does Sealcoating Do for Your Asphalt?

Sealcoating creates a waterproof layer that prevents moisture from seeping into the asphalt base and causing structural damage over time.

Without this protection, water infiltrates small surface pores and cracks, then expands during winter freezes. This cycle weakens the pavement from below and leads to cracking, potholes, and surface deterioration. Oil drips from vehicles also break down untreated asphalt, creating soft spots that erode quickly.

The sealant also blocks harmful UV rays that oxidize and dry out the asphalt binder. Over months and years, unprotected pavement fades to gray and becomes brittle. Sealcoating reverses this aging process by replenishing oils and restoring flexibility to the surface.

When Should You Schedule Sealcoating?

New asphalt should cure for six to twelve months before the first sealcoat application to allow oils to fully evaporate and the surface to harden.

After that initial treatment, most driveways benefit from resealing every two to three years depending on traffic and exposure. If your pavement looks faded, shows small cracks, or has lost its dark color, it's time for a fresh coat. Toothy Sealcoating evaluates surface condition during every estimate and recommends timing based on your pavement's actual needs rather than a fixed schedule.

Spring and fall offer ideal temperatures and humidity for curing, though summer applications work well when rain isn't forecasted. If you're considering asphalt repair services in South Portland , scheduling sealcoating immediately after repairs locks in the work and prevents new damage from forming.

How Does the Application Process Work?

The preparation phase determines how well the sealant bonds and how long the protection lasts across your entire driveway.

Toothy Sealcoating begins every project with thorough cleaning to remove dirt, debris, oil stains, and vegetation. Crews then treat cracks with hot rubberized filler to prevent water from reaching the base. Edging along borders ensures a clean, professional finish and prevents sealer from spreading onto grass or walkways.

Two coats of commercial-grade sealer are applied using professional squeegees or spray equipment. Each layer is allowed to dry before the next goes down. The crew treats every driveway with the same attention to detail they would give their own property, checking coverage and thickness throughout the job.

Curing typically takes 24 to 48 hours depending on temperature and humidity. You'll need to keep vehicles off the surface during this period to allow the sealer to harden fully.

How Do Coastal Conditions in South Portland Affect Asphalt?

South Portland's proximity to Casco Bay means asphalt faces higher humidity, salt air, and temperature swings compared to inland areas of Maine.

Salt carried on ocean breezes accelerates oxidation and surface wear, especially on driveways near the waterfront. Winter road salt from nearby streets compounds this effect during snow season. Moisture from fog and marine air also penetrates unsealed pavement more readily, increasing freeze-thaw damage during cold months.

Regular sealcoating acts as a shield against these environmental stressors. It keeps salt and moisture on the surface where they can evaporate instead of soaking into the asphalt structure. Homeowners in coastal neighborhoods benefit most from a consistent maintenance schedule that accounts for year-round exposure.

Protecting your driveway preserves both its function and the appearance of your property. A well-maintained surface enhances curb appeal and prevents small issues from turning into costly replacements.

Toothy Sealcoating delivers quality workmanship and outstanding customer service on every project in South Portland, Maine. Schedule your evaluation today by calling 207-450-0033 and discover how professional asphalt maintenance services in South Portland extend the life of your pavement.

New Law, New Sealer!

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 23:20:00 GMT

New Law, New Sealer!

What does this mean for you? It means a safer, more environmentally-friendly alternative that has a darker, blacker matte finish. It does have a slight odor for the first couple hours after application, but nothing matching the intensity or duration of the toxic mothball smell associated with coal tar.

We are still sourcing our product locally in Portland from the same supplier who has converted their supply tanks to dispense asphalt emulsion. We have years of experience working with AE sealer, and have dialed in our mix and use premium fortifying additives to optimize performance and aesthetic value.

Keep in mind however that this sealer forms weaker molecular bonds than coal tar sealer, so you may find yourself wanting to re-coat every 2-3 years instead of 3-5 years like you would with coal tar. We generally recommend applying two coats of AE instead of one in order to more closely match the durability and longevity of coal tar. AE also requires 48 - 72 hours of no traffic to set and cure properly as recommended by its manufacturer.

As always, we’re more than happy to consult with you about the new sealer and what you can expect.

Written By Toothy Sealcoating

As of October 1, 2024, coal tar emulsion sealer has been banned in the state of Maine, which joined the ranks of Minnesota, New York, Washington, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin—all of which currently have bans or restrictions on the sale and/or application of coal tar sealer.

What is Sealcoating and Why is it Important? How Often Should I Sealcoat?

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 21:05:00 GMT

What is Sealcoating and Why is it Important? How Often Should I Sealcoat?

Sealcoating is the process by which a protective durable layer is applied to an asphalt surface. This layer is applied as a thick liquid or a gel via brush, squeegee, and/or spray. The coating is typically black, as to match the underlying asphalt color.

While industry standards recommend sealing every two years, we at Toothy Sealcoating advise sealing once a significant portion of the well-trafficked area of your driveway has worn off, between 2-5 years typically.

Sealcoating increases the life of your driveway by repelling water, blocking UV rays, and protecting it from vehicle wear.

Water damages asphalt by seeping into small or large cracks and freezing/thawing. This is the same process by which mountains and large rocks fracture. Known as frost-weathering or cryofracturing, the expansion and contraction of the asphalt base near cracks will result in further fracturing of the pavement. To make matters worse, if the underlayment of your asphalt doesn’t allow for adequate water drainage, water will pool directly at the base of your pavement and cause the asphalt to fail, resulting in “alligator” cracking. This is typically costly to repair, as it requires cutout and removal of the damaged areas. The base is dug out and drainage is put in, and new asphalt is installed. In addition to rubber crack sealing to seal the cracks, a layer of sealcoat will fill hairline cracks and prevent their spread.

UV rays are responsible for the deterioration and evaporation of the bituminous binder in asphalt. The “tar” portion of asphalt is the asphalt bitumen, which makes the asphalt black and also gives asphalt its flexibility. If you’ve ever wondered why new asphalt is a deep black color, but old asphalt is often an ashy gray color, it’s due to the weathering caused by exposure to the sun over time. Sealcoating prevents this by adding a protective “sunblock” layer to your driveway. It works on asphalt in the same way that sunblock works on your skin. Keep your driveway looking young!

Vehicle wear is an inevitability due to the abrasion and friction endured by a driveway surface. Turning tires, dragging heavy items, and daily traffic will create scuffs and contribute to general surface fatigue. Sealer, when dry and cured, is a durable barrier that absorbs much of that force. As sealer is cheaper to re-apply than the asphalt base of your driveway, it is the best way to avoid these issues and extend the life of your driveway by years. Sealcoating is known as a “wear product” and should be reapplied once it has worn off significantly.

We hope you’ve learned about the importance of sealcoating as well as how a properly sealed driveway mitigates different types of damage. Reach out to us if you have any questions about sealcoating!

Written By Toothy Sealcoating

Protect your investment.

My Driveway is New. Why Should I Seal it?

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 21:05:00 GMT

My Driveway is New. Why Should I Seal it?

Much in the same way we bring our cars to the garage for scheduled maintenance, a consistent program of asphalt care every few years will add significant life to your driveway. This begins right after the initial installation. You just spent several thousands of dollars on your driveway. By spending a little bit every few years, you will ensure that you won’t have to pay for a new driveway again for the foreseeable future!

While it’s best to be proactive in protecting your investment, you should wait at least 90-120 days before sealcoating. The reason for this is due to the fact that there are still significant concentrations of oil in the asphalt that need to evaporate. If you sealcoat before the asphalt has cured, the sealer may not stick. If it does stick, you may be trapping too much oil under the surface. If you’re unsure if your driveway is ready to be sealed, give us a call or request a quote . We’d be happy to take a look and advise you on whether your driveway is ready or needs more time.

Written By Toothy Sealcoating

An ounce of prevention…

Sealcoat Brush or Spray? Does it Even Matter?

Sat, 13 Jan 2024 21:04:00 GMT

Sealcoat Brush or Spray? Does it Even Matter?

Applying sealer to your driveway is both an aesthetic and strengthening improvement no matter what method you use. There are, however, different methods used by contractors to apply the sealer. At Toothy Sealcoating we recognize that each method has its strengths and choose to use a combination of methods to give our customers the very best protection possible. This is especially important given the wide range of temperatures and weather events we experience here in Maine.

Spraying a driveway with sealer from above is economical from the perspective of the contractor, as the amount of sealer required to thinly coat the surface of your driveway can be controlled via pressure, output, and strokes of the applicator wand. It also covers large areas much more quickly than a brush. This is why many contractors prefer this method. More time saved, less sealer used, more $$$ in their pocket. This method applies a relatively consistent thickness over the entire surface and doesn’t “flood” the valleys, resulting in what looks more like a paint job, as all the bumpy aggregate of your driveway is still visible through the coating.

Brushing pavement surfaces will push more sealer deep into the micro-holes of the asphalt and fill the lower lying areas between your aggregate stone, resulting in better penetration, adhesion, and will create a smoother surface as the lower portions are raised via filling with sealer. Where spraying is like using a spray-on sunscreen, brushing is like massaging a lotion into your skin. It will hold up longer and will penetrate deeper. Contractors who opt for this method of application generally charge more, as more sealer is used to fill the “valleys” and it is more time consuming.

So, if spraying is good, and brushing is better… what is the BEST way to seal a driveway? Well, if you ask us we would say it’s a combination of both! By brushing the first coat, we are able to fill the lower portions and force the material deeper into the surface to promote a stronger bond at a micro level. By spraying the second coat, we are able to add additional thickness across the sealer surface and leave behind a smooth matte finish free of brush strokes. To visualize a comparison of these methods here is an illustration we made (say what you will about Microsoft Paint, but I can’t think of a more user-friendly tool!):

In the above diagram, figure A represents a driveway that has been sprayed. Note the black line over the gray asphalt. It provides an even coating regardless of the height of the aggregate. Figure B has less sealer on the high portions, but is pushed downward into the low-lying areas to create a smoother surface. Figure C has been brushed to fill in the low-lying areas, and has another layer sprayed over the top for added protection and smoothness of finish. (Keep in mind this diagram is for illustrative purposes and no driveway can ever be this flat or smooth.)

As in many things in life, there are good ways to do things, better ways, and the BEST way. Its our pursuit of finding the best way to serve our customers and provide the highest quality product possible that separates Toothy Sealcoating from our competitors. We hope you’ll be as excited with the results as us!

Good, better, best.

Written By Toothy Sealcoating

Coal Tar vs Asphalt Sealer and the New Laws in Maine

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 21:05:00 GMT

Coal Tar vs Asphalt Sealer and the New Laws in Maine

In the western United States, asphalt sealer has been the standard product for years. Here in the east, and especially the northeast, we’ve used predominately coal tar sealer. To describe it simply (and based upon our experience), coal tar sealer is a durable and highly chemically-active product (you can tell from the smell). Asphalt emulsion is a bit less durable, but more natural product. Over the years, increased awareness of the environmental and health concerns of coal tar pitch and its use in asphalt sealants has led to states such as ours to ban the product outright.

As we at Toothy Sealcoating make the switch to the safer and more sustainable asphalt sealer, we will be researching and testing any additives which may improve the performance of these products. We will also strongly recommend two coats in order to increase the sealer base depth to match or exceed the performance of what would previously be one coat of coal tar sealer.

There are plenty of resources online detailing the drawbacks of coal tar available for you if you want to research further. That said, we are happy to move in the direction of progress and make Maine greener by using a more environmentally friendly product into the future!

It’s time we moved on from harmful coal-tar sealers

Written By Toothy Sealcoating