Resurfacing is a structural repair that will extend the useful life of your asphalt driveway. It involves patching (if necessary) and resurfacing the entire driveway with a new overlay of 1 ½” to 3″ of hot bituminous asphalt. 

Sealcoating is not a structural repair. The sealcoating protects and extends the life of your asphalt, but does nothing to correct structural flaws. Sealcoating is substantially less expensive than resurfacing your driveway.

Usually, you should be able to drive on the surface after two to three days if you are careful. However, your new asphalt driveway can take more than 30 days to cure depending on temperature variations from night to day. Also, see information on tire scuff marks below.

This depends in part on how much direct sunlight and traffic that your driveway gets. Usually,a surface should not need sealcoating more than every three or four years. If a driveway has been sealcoated too many times, it becomes very smooth and slick when it rains.

The material you select for your driveway is primarily a question of personal taste, but there are two main differences. Asphalt is a flexible surface that has the ability to flex with use and slight movements of the base. Concrete relies on its internal strength to absorb loads and bridge weaknesses in the sub-base. Also, concrete costs significantly more than an asphalt surface of similar strength.

With a good base, you can expect your new asphalt pavement to typically last about 10 to 20 years. Keep in mind that the lifespan depends on several factors, including the amount of traffic, the climate, and asphalt maintenance.