DIY Network

Driveway Repair Step-by-step instructions for resealing a driveway From "Home Maintenance" episode DHMW-105

In this final segment of DIY's Home Maintenance workshop, host Tim Hockenberry demonstrates--step-by-step--how to reseal and repair your driveway.

advertisement

Materials:

Driveway patch
Putty knife
5-in-1 tool
Garden hose
Push broom
Plastic bags
Driveway sealant
Squeegee

Figure A

Repair and Reseal Driveway

1. Check the driveway surface for cracks. Remove dirt and debris from larger cracks with your 5-in-1 tool. Then fill them with a driveway patch (available at your local hardware store). Make sure to fill the cracks completely and then smooth them over with the trowel.

2. Give the driveway a good sweeping and scrape away off any gunk that might be embedded in the asphalt.

3. Hose off the driveway to get the surface as clean as possible.

4. Put on some old clothes! Cover your shoes with plastic bags to protect them from splatter.

5. Stir the driveway sealer for 15 minutes or until it is an even consistency. Pour sealer in a line down the center of the driveway. You want to spread the layer of sealant as thinly as possible to cover the entire surface. Use a squeegee to pull the sealer from the center to each side (figure A).

6. Continue until the driveway is completely covered.

7. It takes a few hours to dry and overnight to cure so avoid walking on it and certainly don't park on it until it is fully cured.

Miscellaneous Tips:

• Do you lose your gutters to ice build-up every year? If you suffer from ice damming, you might consider a little extra help preventing ice from building up and damaging your gutters and downspouts. Heat tape is a great long-term solution. Heat tape is actually a cable that plugs right into a GFCI outlet. Installed along the roofline, it generates a low level heat that helps keep ice from forming and blocking the water flow. It is the perfect way to make sure your gutters are clear and secure throughout the winter.

• Sometimes the limited use of an appliance can actually create problems. For example, if you don't use your dishwasher for months, the seals can dry out which might cause a failure.

• Every few years you should check the life expectancy of your appliances. It will give you an idea when they might need to be serviced or replaced.

• Lubricate the closing mechanisms on screen doors and all other door hinges.

• And finally, vacuum in those areas that never see the light of day.

DIY Home Maintenance Seasonal Checklist "Take Care of Your House and It Will Take Care of You!"...and you can start by printing out DIY's PDF checklist file.