Sealcoating vs Crack Sealing in Michigan City: What’s the Difference?
This is one of those things that gets confusing pretty quickly.
You notice a few cracks in the driveway.
The asphalt isn't as black as it used to be.
Maybe there are a couple rough areas starting to show up.
So you start looking into maintenance and come across two terms over and over again.
Sealcoating.
Crack sealing.
They sound similar enough that it's easy to assume they're basically the same thing.
They're not.
Both can be useful for maintaining asphalt, but they solve different problems. Knowing which one you actually need can save you from spending money on something that isn't going to fix the issue you're seeing.
What Is Crack Sealing?
Crack sealing is exactly what the name suggests.
It involves treating cracks in the asphalt so water and debris have a harder time getting
inside them.
That might sound like a pretty minor thing.
Around Michigan City, it isn't.
Once a crack opens up, you've created a path for water to get below the surface.
Rain gets in.
Snow melts.
Water sits inside the crack.
Then temperatures fall below freezing.
That's when a small surface problem can start turning into something more serious.
The Federal Highway Administration recognizes crack sealing and crack filling as
pavement maintenance practices used to reduce water infiltration into the pavement
structure.
The earlier cracks are addressed, the better chance you have of keeping water from
causing additional damage underneath.
What Is Sealcoating?
Sealcoating is different.
Instead of treating individual cracks, sealcoat is applied across the asphalt surface.
Think of it more like a protective layer.
Over time, asphalt is exposed to sunlight, rain, vehicle traffic, oil, snow, salt, and
everything else that comes with being outside year after year.
Eventually, that rich black surface starts looking gray and dry.
Sealcoating helps protect pavement from some of that exposure while also improving
its appearance.
For asphalt that is still in good condition, it can be an important part of routine
maintenance.
Our Best Time to Sealcoat in Michigan City guide explains when local weather
conditions are usually most suitable for the work.
So What's the Main Difference?
The easiest way to remember it is this.
Crack sealing treats cracks.
Sealcoating treats the surface.
If your driveway has several individual cracks, those cracks should normally be
addressed rather than simply covered with sealcoat.
If the pavement is structurally sound but the surface is aging and losing its appearance,
sealcoating may make sense.
And sometimes you need both.
That's actually pretty common.
Can You Sealcoat Over Cracks?
This is where homeowners can get themselves into trouble.
Sealcoat is not a substitute for crack repair.
Putting sealcoat over a noticeable crack doesn't make the crack disappear structurally.
It might make everything look more uniform for a while, but the opening underneath is
still there.
Water can continue working its way into damaged pavement.
That's why cracks are normally evaluated and treated before sealcoating.
You want to take care of the openings first and then protect the surrounding surface.
Why Cracks Matter So Much in Michigan City
A driveway crack in a warm, dry climate is one thing.
A crack in Northwest Indiana has a different life ahead of it.
We get rain.
We get snow.
We get freezing temperatures.
And we get those stretches where temperatures move above and below freezing
repeatedly.
Water enters a crack during warmer conditions.
The temperature drops.
That moisture freezes.
Later it thaws.
Then it can happen again.
Our How Freeze Thaw Cycles Damage Asphalt in Michigan City guide goes much
deeper into what happens during this process.
The important thing to remember is that an untreated crack gives water somewhere to
go.
Crack Sealing Doesn't Fix Every Crack
This is just as important as understanding what crack sealing can do.
Crack sealing is maintenance.
It isn't a cure for structural pavement failure.
If your driveway has one or several ordinary cracks but the pavement around them is
still solid, sealing those cracks may be a reasonable maintenance step.
If the driveway is covered in interconnected cracking and the pavement is moving
underneath vehicle traffic, you may be dealing with something completely different.
We recently covered this in our What Causes Alligator Cracking in Asphalt
Driveways in Michigan City article.
Alligator cracking can point toward a problem with the support underneath the asphalt.
Sealing every little crack on top isn't going to rebuild a weak base.
Sealcoating Won't Fix Structural Damage Either
The same rule applies to sealcoating.
There is a right time for it.
There is also a point where the pavement has gone beyond what sealcoating can help.
If you have deep potholes, large areas of alligator cracking, serious sinking, or sections
where the base has failed, a fresh black coating isn't the solution.
The pavement may look better temporarily.
The underlying damage will still be there.
This is why it's important to inspect asphalt before deciding what kind of maintenance
to perform.
Sometimes sealcoating is exactly what the driveway needs.
Sometimes repairs need to happen first.
And sometimes the pavement has reached the point where larger work should be
considered.
When Does a Driveway Need Crack Sealing?
Start by looking at the cracks themselves.
Are they isolated?
Is the pavement around them still firm?
Have they appeared recently?
Are they creating openings where water can enter?
Those are the kinds of situations where crack sealing is worth discussing.
Don's Do It All offers asphalt repair and maintenance in Michigan City, including
crack sealing, pothole repair, surface patching, overlays, and resurfacing.
The goal is to deal with smaller problems before they have a chance to become larger
ones.
When Does a Driveway Need Sealcoating?
Sealcoating makes the most sense when the pavement underneath is still healthy.
Maybe the driveway is starting to fade.
The surface looks dry.
You want additional protection from weather and moisture.
There aren't major structural problems that need to be repaired first.
That's a much better candidate for sealcoating than a driveway that's already falling
apart.
The same principle applies to commercial pavement. Our How Often Should You
Sealcoat a Commercial Parking Lot in Michigan City article explains how traffic,
pavement condition, and exposure can affect maintenance timing.
Which One Should Come First?
If a driveway needs both crack sealing and sealcoating, the cracks should be dealt with
first.
That order matters.
It doesn't make much sense to put a protective coating over the entire driveway and
then start addressing cracks underneath it.
You want to evaluate the pavement.
Take care of necessary repairs.
Treat appropriate cracks.
Then sealcoat the surface when conditions are right.
That gives each treatment a chance to do the job it was intended to do.
What If the Cracks Keep Coming Back?
That's when we start asking more questions.
A crack that continues opening after repeated repairs may be telling you something.
Maybe the pavement is moving.
Maybe water is affecting the base.
Maybe drainage is poor.
Maybe the driveway has simply reached an age where repairs are becoming more
frequent.
This is also why standing water deserves attention.
Our Standing Water on Asphalt in Michigan City guide explains how low areas and
drainage problems can allow moisture to keep working against the pavement.
If water is constantly collecting around the same damaged section, sealing the visible
crack without addressing the drainage issue may not get you very far.
What If the Driveway Is Already in Rough Shape?
At some point, maintenance stops being the best answer.
You may find yourself sealing cracks every year.
Potholes keep showing up.
Large areas are breaking apart.
The driveway has several low spots.
Repairs that used to last are failing faster.
That's when it's worth stepping back and looking at the driveway as a whole.
An overlay may be possible if the existing pavement and base are still stable.
If the structure underneath has failed, replacement may make more sense.
Our Asphalt Overlay vs Full Replacement in Michigan City guide breaks down those
two options in more detail.
What About Commercial Parking Lots?
The same basic rules apply, but commercial properties usually have more pavement
and more traffic to worry about.
A parking lot may deal with passenger vehicles all day, delivery trucks in the morning,
garbage trucks during the week, snow removal equipment in winter, and constant
turning movements.
Small pavement problems can spread quickly under those conditions.
Crack sealing can be part of a maintenance plan for otherwise serviceable pavement.
Sealcoating can protect the surface and improve the appearance of the property.
After sealcoating, commercial lots will generally need their pavement markings restored
as well.
That makes it a good time to look at faded traffic lines, accessible parking spaces,
arrows, and other markings while the maintenance work is already being planned.
Maintenance Works Best Before the Pavement Fails
This is probably the most important part.
Both crack sealing and sealcoating work best when they're used as maintenance.
Not as a last attempt to save pavement that has already failed.
Once structural failure has taken over, you're no longer talking about simple preventive
maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sealcoating and
Crack Sealing
Is crack sealing the same as sealcoating?
No. Crack sealing treats individual cracks, while sealcoating applies a protective coating
across the asphalt surface.
Should cracks be repaired before sealcoating?
Cracks and other necessary repairs should generally be addressed before sealcoating so existing problems aren't simply covered up.
Will sealcoating fill small cracks?
Sealcoat may visually cover very small surface imperfections, but it isn't a replacement
for proper crack treatment.
Can crack sealing fix alligator cracking?
Crack sealing doesn't repair a failed pavement structure. Extensive alligator cracking
may require patching, base repair, resurfacing, or replacement depending on its cause
and severity.
Do I need both crack sealing and sealcoating?
Possibly. A driveway with otherwise healthy pavement may need appropriate cracks
treated before the surface is sealcoated.
Final Thoughts
Sealcoating and crack sealing are both useful tools.
They're just not interchangeable.
Crack sealing is about addressing openings in the pavement and helping keep water
from getting underneath.
Sealcoating is about protecting the asphalt surface while it is still in condition worth
protecting.
Sometimes you need one.
Sometimes you need both.
And sometimes the driveway is telling you that maintenance alone isn't enough
anymore.
If you have an asphalt driveway or parking lot in Michigan City, La Porte, or the
surrounding Northwest Indiana area and you're not sure what kind of maintenance it
needs, Don's Do It All can take a look.
The important thing is choosing the treatment that matches the actual condition of the
pavement.
Because protecting good asphalt is usually a lot easier than trying to save it after the
structure underneath has already failed.
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