Learn me driveway sealer

Our driveway has never been sealed. The house was built in the mid 1990s. The surface is really grainy now and there's lots of loose flotsam. Years ago I had done some research on driveway sealing and it seemed inconclusive if it was a good thing or detrimental over the long term. But, looking at what I have now, I think it needs done.

I've gotten estimates of $650 to nearly $1000. Some will brush it in, others won't. No, I'm not interested in doing it myself. My time is worth more, and guaranteed I'd be one bucket short.

Anyone have real knowledge about this stuff?

Once you do it  you have to do it again  every couple of years. It can be slippery when wet. Many of the contractors feel scammy.... I'm not a fan of the stuff.

I think once the surface gets to that point i would either top it with another layer or leave it alone.  But I'm no expert just from my experience.

It was always a Labor Day ritual - mix the cans, get the good stuff, spend your Saturday pushing it around.

Then a guy started Fireman Sealcoating and it's more money but not much more.  An older neighbor got scammed with a guy that sprays on what smells like paint.

Have fun if you decide to do it.

Did mine last year as it was starting to get rough and I have young kids who play on it. I diy'd it, it seems there is no lasting way to seal the cracks, but for roughness it worked very well. A lot smoother, way way better on the skinned knee factor and easier for them to ride scooters etc on. Bonus treat, snow removal is way way way easier. The ice doesn't stick. No pebbles breaking loose. On the cracks, it closes then a bit, but they will keep getting bigger and open back up.

Getting fresh asphalt is the real answer, but God awful expensive. You can put it off for some years by seal coating which is pennies on the dollar compared to new asphalt.

I got an extendable pole that goes to 12+ft long from wally world that really helped. For diy and got the coating stuff from Lowe's. 

I would look for squeegee rather than spray if paying someone for smoother surface. But that's me.

I did mine last summer:

I did the middle price option from Lowes Depot. So far it's holding up OK. I did as much prep as I could, pressure washed the whole thing a few days before, did weed killer along all cracks, and then sealed them. It was an all day job for sure, and I had to send my wife for a couple more buckets towards the end. I just poured it out and squeegeed it around to spread it.

Sealcoat will not bond the loose stuff to the solid stuff.  At least not in my experience.  So sweeping the whole thing to get down to a solid surface is a must.  The it will hold things together but how long depends on the base surface.  Your driveway is as old as mine, I did my last coat 2 years ago, now saving for a new driveway.  I spent 2 hours sweeping the loose stuff this month, close to 100 pounds of stones and grit.  That is telling me it is past sealing.

Our old neighbours sealed their driveway regularly. They did it themselves. This was in Oshawa, ON, so not too different a climate from PA. I don't know what product they used, but "slippery when wet" doesn't begin to describe it. Nobody in their house ever actually fell and broke a limb, but I bet it was a near thing many, many times. I would definitely not have wanted to walk up that driveway carrying something fragile, such as a baby.

Maybe it made snow clearing easier, but my question would be, "How do you brace yourself to get a good shovelfull to toss?"

Not a fan.

I'm not sure what product you guys are using for an ice rink, but ours doesn't have that problem. Then again, our driveway is very flat.

I think there is sand mixed in with the product to prevent that.  I used the Lowe's stuff as it came from the store.

Yeah, mixing in sand was an option from one of them.

I really do need to pave the thing, as there was a section added before our owner ship that has a noticeable gap, and we've since added another bay that just has stones in front of it. I know the bill for that will be in the thousands. Ugh.

I struggle with how much to spend on the property. I'm 59, and personally would like to move to another state. The wife isn't having it. And I've got 3 garage bays, which would be hard to duplicate or exceed around here without spending more money/getting a loan on a replacement home vs the paid-for house I currently live in. I dislike adulting.

And, to repeat, I'm not DIYing it. 

Fix the driveway.  Even if you hit the lottery and move out of state a new driveway will help resale of the house.  In the meantime don't waste money and time on the sealer.  Too late baby!