Frequently Asked Questions

We provide residential services to the entire Riverbend area, including Alton, Bethalto, Brighton, East Alton, Fosterburg, Godfrey, Granite City, Hartford, Jerseyville, Meadowbrook, Mitchel, Rosewood Heights, Roxana, Wood River, and all areas in between. 

Commercial services extend to the entire Madison County and greater St. Louis areas.

We only need you to ensure no vehicles or obstructions are on the asphalt, the sprinkler system is off, and the staff and customers know that the asphalt will be off-limits for at least 24 hours.

The first steps for sealing a driveway or parking lot.

• Weedeat edges and cracks
• Clean surface with stiff-bristled brushes and blowers - additional means, if necessary
• Crack fill (If necessary)
• Seal the surface - squeegee or spray as appropriate
• Block off entrances and walkways 

For commercial lots, we will return to stripe and open the lot. 

For residential driveways, we typically use caution tape that the homeowner removes.

Typically, you should stay off the new sealer for 24 hours. However, different conditions could extend that time. For instance, if the temperatures are cooler or there is high humidity, you might have to wait longer.

We follow a 30% guideline. We will discuss rescheduling if there is a 30% chance of more rain in the next 24 hours. 

Due to the unpredictability of the weather, this usually leads to a judgment call. 

• If we recommend sealing and it is rained off, we will reseal your asphalt at no charge. 
• If you want us to take the chance and seal it and it is rained off, we will reseal but charge for the material. 

 We do not seal if the temperature will be below 50°F at any point for the next 48 hours. 

 If you’ve recently installed new asphalt, wait at least six months to a year to ensure the sealant doesn’t trap oils within the asphalt, resulting in the asphalt being too soft or flexible. 

The short answer: Every two to three years. 

The long answer: It depends on factors like...

• The amount of traffic
• Sun exposure
• Winter conditions, plowing and salt 
• Exposure to oils and solvents
• Cracks and weed growth

The method for applying the sealer depends on the surface of your asphalt.

Sealers can be applied with either method on new or relatively crack-free surfaces.

But it can become smooth after the asphalt has been sealed for many years. A squeegee on smooth surfaces pulls much of the sealer off, like squeegeeing glass.

There are times when we squeegee smooth surfaces that have large spider-cracked areas. This method fills the numerous small cracks, and we then spray over that area for a consistent look. 

The sealer generally addresses small cracks under 1/8th of an inch.

Larger cracks (1/4" or greater) should be addressed. We provide both cold and hot crack fill.

The difference between the two is durability. Cold crack fill dries out and becomes brittle faster than hot crack fill. Hot crack fill also has greater plasticity, allowing it to move and flex with the pavement.

In our experience, store-bought brands are not as durable as the commercial grades provided by manufacturers like SealMaster.

The bigger issues are aggravation and time. Not only will you waste a day off, but the bucket sealers aren't as effective. Don't forget the squeegees and brushes, and you'll ruin some shoes and clothes. 

It's best to leave it to us. We can save you time and aggravation while using a better-quality product.