How Do You Maintain a Driveway?
Regular maintenance extends a driveway‘s service life by 5 to 10 years and avoids expensive base repair or full replacement.
Asphalt: Seal Every 3 to 5 Years
New asphalt should not be sealed for the first 6 to 12 months (the curing process requires air and UV exposure). After the initial curing: apply an asphalt sealer every 3 to 5 years. The sealer fills surface pores, reduces UV oxidation (which makes asphalt brittle), and reduces water infiltration. DIY seal coating: $0.15 to $0.25 per square foot in materials; a 600-square-foot driveway can be sealed in 2 to 3 hours. Professional seal coating: $0.15 to $0.40 per square foot. Fill cracks over 1/4 inch wide with crack filler before sealing — the sealer does not bridge open cracks. (For more on this, see DIY Driveway Repair: What You Can Do Yourself.)
Concrete: Fill Cracks and Seal
Inspect concrete annually for cracks and fill any crack over 1/8 inch wide with polyurethane or epoxy crack filler. Seal concrete every 5 to 10 years with a penetrating sealer to reduce water and salt infiltration. Avoid using deicing salts (sodium chloride) on concrete — use sand or calcium magnesium acetate as alternatives. Deicing salts damage the concrete surface through repeated freeze-thaw cycles with salt-saturated water.
All Driveways: Drainage Management
Keep the driveway surface clear of soil accumulation at the edges, which traps water against the pavement. Clean any debris from drainage channels adjacent to the driveway. Ensure downspouts do not discharge directly onto the driveway. Water infiltration through the surface is the primary cause of base deterioration — keeping water off the surface is the most important maintenance action throughout the driveway’s life.
Working With a Contractor on This Project
Getting the right outcome on any home services project starts before the work begins. A few consistent practices make the difference between a smooth project and a frustrating one.
Get at least two or three quotes. A single quote gives you no basis for comparison. Two or three quotes reveal the market rate for the work, expose scope differences between bidders, and let you assess contractor communication quality before any commitment is made. The lowest bid is not automatically the best value if the scope is thin or the materials are underspecified.
Ask for licenses and insurance before work starts. Verify current general liability insurance and, for any work involving workers on your property, workers compensation coverage. Licensing requirements vary by state and trade; confirm the specific requirements in your jurisdiction. A licensed contractor who carries appropriate insurance protects both parties if something goes wrong during the project. (For more on this, see Driveway Repair Questions to Ask Before Hiring.)
Get the scope in writing. A written proposal that specifies materials, labor scope, timeline, what is included (permits, cleanup, disposal), and warranty terms is the foundation of a professional engagement. Verbal agreements on any of these points invite misunderstanding. For any project over $500, written scope is non-negotiable.
Clarify the payment schedule upfront. A reasonable payment schedule ties major payments to project milestones: a deposit at signing, a payment at material delivery or project start, and a final payment at completion after a walkthrough confirms satisfaction. A contractor who requires full payment upfront before work begins is a red flag in any trade.
Making a Confident Decision
The information in this article is designed to help you ask better questions of the professionals you work with, evaluate their answers with more confidence, and understand the decisions involved in this type of home services project. It is not a substitute for professional assessment of your specific home.
Every home is different. Roof slopes, local weather, tree exposure, soil conditions, and existing system condition all affect what the right solution is for your specific situation. The general principles here apply broadly, but a professional who assesses your home in person will give you guidance that accounts for the details that general articles cannot.
When you are ready to move forward, getting at least two or three quotes from licensed, insured, local contractors is the most important practical step. It lets you compare approaches, assess contractor quality, and confirm that the solution proposed matches your specific situation and budget.
Driveway Repair Cost at a Glance
Crack and edge repair: $175 to $650.
Sealcoating: $200 to $600 for a typical driveway.
Pothole and patch repair: $150 to $800.
Resurfacing: $1,000 to $4,500 for a standard driveway.
Mudjacking (sunken slab): $700 to $3,800.
Overall range: $150 to $5,000, averaging $1,000 for a mid-range repair.
Cost figures on this page were checked against published pricing on August 29, 2026. How we source cost data.