We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Home

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are the Different Kinds of Driveway Coating?

By T. L. Childree
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 21,068
Share

A driveway coating can help protect the surface from the adverse effects of gasoline, oil, and ultraviolet rays. Different kinds of driveway coating products are available for both asphalt and concrete driveways. Asphalt driveways may be coated with coal tar, asphalt, acrylic, water-based, or oil-based products. Concrete driveways can be coated with either epoxy or linseed oil-based products. A special crack-filling driveway coating is also available for both asphalt and concrete surfaces.

Coal tar driveway coatings are typically composed of coal tar, polymers, and clay or sand. This type of coating is usually more durable because of its resistance to oil and gasoline. A coal tar driveway coating can be applied to surfaces that are continuously exposed to direct sunlight without becoming faded or discolored over time. This coating is relatively inexpensive and also easy to apply.

An asphalt driveway coating is composed mainly of asphalt and sand. Asphalt coatings are more prone to be damaged by gasoline and oil than other types of products, because petroleum acts as a natural solvent for asphalt. An asphalt coating that is continuously exposed to direct sunlight will usually have to be replaced within three to four years. Asphalt driveway coatings are typically more expensive than coal tar coatings and are also more difficult to apply.

Acrylic coatings are completely synthetic products composed of a mixture of polymers and acrylic. An acrylic driveway coating is usually quite expensive, but is much more resistant to sunlight, oil, and gasoline than other types of coatings. Acrylic coatings are typically very easy to apply and last for many years. This kind of coating can also be ordered in many different colors.

Both water-based and oil-based driveway coatings are inexpensive and easy to apply. These coatings are similar in composition to regular paint and are available in a variety of colors. The petroleum component of oil-based coatings makes them slightly more durable than water-based coatings. Each product typically offers the same resistance to sunlight as ordinary paint does and will probably need recoating after a few years.

Concrete driveways can be coated with either an epoxy material or ordinary linseed oil. Epoxy driveway coatings typically protect the concrete surface from gasoline, oil, and sunlight and are also very durable. Applying an epoxy coating to a concrete driveway may also prevent it from cracking during extreme temperature changes. Linseed oil can also be used for concrete driveways and offers an inexpensive method of protecting the surface from gasoline, oil, and ultraviolet rays.

Special crack-filling driveway coatings can be used for both concrete and asphalt surfaces. These specialty materials are designed for small areas to prevent existing cracks from becoming worse. Crack-filling coatings are available for hot or cold applications. Cold applications can be made using a caulking tool, while hot applications require the use of a propane torch.

Share
HomeQuestionsAnswered is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By Markerrag — On Jul 10, 2014

@Logicfest -- that is a good question and I have no answer. However, I have run across that, too. It seems the ones mixed with small pebbles hold up for years while the ones mixed with larger stones do not. The large stones tend to separate and the whole structure unravels.

They aren't too comfortable on bare feet, either.

By Logicfest — On Jul 10, 2014

One of the best driveway surfaces I have seen was concrete mixed with pebbles. That coating provided outstanding traction when snow fell, resisted cracks very well and lasted for years (a couple of decades before it cracked). I am not sure why it lasted so long without cracking, but that mixture was unusually durable and long lasting.

Share
https://www.homequestionsanswered.com/what-are-the-different-kinds-of-driveway-coating.htm
Copy this link
HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.