DRIVEWAY QUESTIONS, ANSWERED.

Price depends on the size of the driveway, how much crack filling is needed and the condition of the surface. A small single driveway in good shape and a large double that needs extensive crack work are very different jobs. We give you a fixed price after we've seen it — photos are usually enough to get you a number quickly.

Most residential asphalt driveways in the Calgary area benefit from sealing every few years rather than every season. Sun exposure, traffic and how the driveway has been maintained all move that timeline. We'd rather tell you to wait a year than sell you something you don't need.

Cure time depends on temperature, humidity and sun. We give you a specific timeframe on the day and barricade the driveway before we leave. Plan on staying off it for the rest of the day at minimum, and expect to keep vehicles off longer in cool or damp conditions.

No. Sealer is a thin protective coating — it flows over cracks, it doesn't fill them. Cracks need to be filled separately with a flexible crack sealant before sealing. Anyone telling you the sealer will take care of the cracks is skipping a step.

Yes. Crack filling is part of the process wherever it's needed, and it's done before any sealer goes down. Your estimate will spell out what crack work is included.

We reschedule. Sealer applied ahead of rain won't cure properly and the result won't last. We watch the forecast closely and will move your date rather than rush a job that's going to fail.

It depends on the gravel base underneath. If the base is sound and the problems are on the surface or in a few areas, repair is usually the right answer. If the base has failed across the driveway, repairs are a temporary fix. We'll tell you which one you're dealing with.

A specialized heater warms roughly the top 1.5 to 2 inches of existing asphalt until it's workable. That asphalt is then raked, rejuvenated, supplemented with fresh hot mix where required, and re-compacted. Because nothing is cut out, there's no seam around the repair — it blends into the surrounding pavement.

Edges are cut in by hand and we mask and protect adjacent concrete, aprons and garage floors. Sealer is a black material applied next to lighter surfaces, so careful edge work is part of doing the job properly.

Move all vehicles off the driveway and out of the garage if you'll need them. Take down basketball nets or anything sitting on the surface, and make sure sprinklers are off. We handle the cleaning and prep work.

A freshly sealed surface is smoother than weathered asphalt and can feel slick when wet, particularly on a slope. Sand additives can be used where traction is a concern — mention any slope on your driveway and we'll discuss options.

Realistically, a few years, depending on sun exposure, traffic, drainage and winter maintenance. A south-facing driveway that gets plowed hard will not perform like a shaded one used by one car. We won't quote you a specific lifespan we can't stand behind.

We work throughout a one hour drive from Calgary. If you're just outside that list, call and ask — we may already be working nearby.