How often should you seal your driveway cracks?

Skipping it eventually leads to water damage or an expensive repair.

Staying on schedule matters beyond the repair bill: a consistent maintenance record is one of the factors in a home's Roots Home Health Score, and well-kept homes typically sell faster and closer to asking price.

How to do it

Water is what destroys a driveway: it seeps into cracks, freezes, expands, and pries the surface apart. Sealing cracks (and periodically resealing asphalt) keeps water out and stretches the driveway's life for little cost.

1. Clean the cracks of debris and weeds and let them dry fully.
2. Fill cracks with the right filler (crack sealant for asphalt, concrete filler for concrete), slightly overfilling to allow for settling.
3. For asphalt, apply a coat of driveway sealer over the whole surface every few years once cracks are filled.
4. Keep traffic off until everything cures per the product instructions.

Alternatives & optional extras

• Seal on a dry, warm, cloudy day; rain or extreme heat during curing ruins the job.
• Wide or heaving cracks and potholes need patching or a section replacement, not just sealant.

Time: ~2 hours · Typical cost: $20–$60 for filler and sealer

What you'll need

• Asphalt crack filler / driveway sealer

If you skip it

Unsealed cracks let water freeze and expand inside the driveway, which spreads the cracking and breaks the surface apart far faster.

Related systems to keep on schedule

• Deck / patio — start with: inspect deck ledger, fasteners, and boards, once a year, ideally in May
• Irrigation / sprinklers — start with: winterize irrigation system, once a year, ideally in October
• Pool / spa — start with: clean pool filter, once a month
• Fence — start with: inspect fence posts and boards, once a year