Shared Knowledge
"Latex-ite Driveway Sealer - User Review"
7 Jan 2012
Summary: can only comment on application as have just applied. Does go down easy enough once you have the plastic can open.
Background:
Asphalt driveway 10 foot (ft) wide, 100 ft long with 15ft X 30ft adjacent add-on.
Driveway runs very close to 4 ft diameter oak tree.
Oak tree roots had grown and cracked asphalt.
Where asphalt cracks the worst, cut out with power saw with a rock cutting blade, dug out old asphalt and replaced with new asphalt.
Where cracks only minor, used Latex trowel patch to cover off and seal cracks.
After crack repair, needed to seal entire driveway from pending winter weather (snow, rain, freezing in cracks).
Looked at driveway sealers at Home Depot and decided to use Latex-ite because a paint roller could be used to apply versus a push broom or mop as required by other sealers.
Printed on Latex-ite can is 10 year guarantee, which was published better than any other sealer.
I did no special surface prep other than to blow off driveway with leaf blower. Think water washing is recommended.
My experiences:
The plastic can: opening my first plastic can was a bear. Have finally found, best to use your fingers to pull up right where the plastic ring tear-off is located and then slowly lift up in the middle of adjacent "tabs". I am not sure a woman could open the plastic can on her own and no slam intended towards women. Just know my wife could not do it.
Application roller: use a 6 inch long roller applicator. A 6 inch roller applicator fits neatly inside the plastic bucket.
Roller: directions on can say to use a 6 inch roller with a 3/4 inch nap. Did not know that rollers were defined by nap but they are.
Roller quality: at my local Home Depot, 2 different qualities and thus prices for 6 in long, 3/4 inch nap rollers. I have now used both and the more expensive roller just lasts long and to me, is worth the extra money.
Number of rollers needed per can: if you are going to use a whole can, going to need 3 cheap rollers or 1, maybe 2 more expensive rollers. Asphalt just wears out the nap.
Latex-ite stirring initially: as defined on can, contents must be stirred thoroughly. Upon opening, most of the real stuff is on the bottom of the can but with a strong stir for several minutes, specifically, stirring up the bottom sludge, all the bottom contents will dissolve back into the 2 gallons of liquid. I used a piece of plywood I had that was 3/4inch thick by 2 feet long to do the job. Not sure a plain old paint stir paddle going to do it or it will take longer.
Latex-ite stirring occasionally: the can must be stirred ever 15-30 minutes or the real stuff will sink back down to the bottom of the can on you.
Temperature at application: can says to only apply with temperature 55 degrees or above and that is what I did.
Application: seemed to work best for me to complete submerge the roller into the Latex-ite, pull roller out and let it drip a little and then start rolling on asphalt. A roller full allows you to cover a decent area of asphalt.
Coverage: 2 ways to look at it. Takes me 2 hours of more or less constant work to apply one can. I do apply heavily such that I can not see any unsealed asphalt. The other way to look at it is that I have now used 4 cans to cover the 10ft wide, 100ft long section of driveway for an average coverage of about 27.5square feet per can.
Drying time: can says dry to walk on in 1 hour and totally dry in 4 hours. Both are true.
Spot recoat: although I tried to apply heavily and completely seal asphalt, did have to go back and apply more sealer here and there.
Spotty: can says to do entire job all at once to avoid color differences between cans. That not possible for my larger job and multiple cans but if spotty, I do not notice it.
Color: comes out of the can black and goes on black and seems to stay black.
Durability: can not comment yet. I know most would think that heavier, apply with mop or push broom the way to go for durability and perhaps they right but as a sealer, Latex-ite seems ok for me now. We will see. 10 years??