Why should I choose Driveway Envy?

Let’s face it - as a consumer, you have lots of options to choose from in the Asphalt space. Our differentiators are our people, process, and products. If you want a company that will treat you with respect, remain professional, stand by our work, address your questions and concerns, and provide an unmatched customer experience - then you should choose us. It also helps that we use the highest quality products available in our market - the same ones we’ve been using for 15 years.

How are you different from other Asphalt companies?

We are locally and family owned - not a franchise, so we have competitive pricing and quality control. We operate with transparency and integrity. We answer the phone, respond to emails, and treat our customers with the respect that they deserve. We also use industrial/commercial grade products for all of our work.

Do you provide group rate discounts?

Yes! Whether you are looking for a group rate on sealcoating and crack filling services, apron replacements, or driveway paving - we’ve got you covered.

Our most popular group rate discount is the “Tar Party” which is group rate pricing for Sealcoating and Crack filling services in the same neighborhood.

What type of products do you use?

For sealcoating, we use an Asphalt Emulsion - which contains sands, silicas, and other polymers that bind to the surface to add a layer of durability and seal out the elements. We’ve been using the same product for 15 years and have worked with our supplier to improve the product throughout that time. The product we use is commercial grade - we use it on high traffic parking lots and residential driveways. The product dries as a nice deep black color - it is NOT blue or gray. Our Sealcoating product does not smell and it is not harmful to the environment.

Our crack filling product is also a commercial grade product. It is applied at 400 degrees and will seal out water from causing further damage. The sealcoating product is applied over the top of the crack filler.

For our paving projects - we use high quality aggregate and asphalt products from the leading supplier in the Twin Cities Metro. They follow strict quality standards and invest heavily in recycled materials.

Why should I sealcoat my Driveway?

Did you know, the cost of an entire asphalt replacement job can be up to 30 times more expensive than properly maintaining your asphalt surface? Routine Maintenance including crack filling and sealcoating can double the life of your asphalt surface.

Sealcoating is considered proper home maintenance - just like many other home maintenance activities you do yourself or hire a contractor for. Many companies (including us) require this as part of their warranty coverage on a new asphalt driveway.

It is recommended that you regularly sealcoat (every 2-3 years) your driveway starting at least 12 months after the driveway was installed. Asphalt sealer offers a protective coating that’s impervious to road salt, anti-freeze, gasoline, oil, and grease. Sealcoating will also fill hairline cracks and keep your driveway looking beautiful with a uniform black finish. Unprotected driveways remain porous, dry out, become rough, and lose their life rapidly. Crack filling is essential for keeping water out of the driveway. Midwest winters cause the driveway to move throughout freezing and thawing cycles. Any cracks that occur should be filled in the spring/summer.

Crack filling is one of the most important steps you can take to prolong the life of your asphalt. If cracks are left untreated, they will allow water into and beneath the asphalt surface which leads to pavement failure. Water is the number one enemy of asphalt.

Sealcoating also improves the appearance of your asphalt and property. First impressions of your home or place of business are greatly enhanced with a deep, rich, satiny black finish.

When should I sealcoat my new driveway?

You should sealcoat your new asphalt driveway 1-2 years after it was paved. There needs to be ample time for the driveway to cure and harden. Sealing too soon will mess with this process and cause bigger issues down the road.

How is asphalt sealer applied?

Asphalt sealer is applied using a wand and a broom. We NEVER spray residential driveways, as it’s very important to ensure we do not damage the property and get sealcoat on non-asphalt surfaces. We use a hose and wand to carefully apply product to the driveway and then use special brooms to apply the sealant in an overlapping pattern. Brooming the driveway ensures equal and ample coverage and it also works the product into the surface better than spraying.

Is two coats better than one coat?

The sealcoating emulsion we use is on the thicker side and we do NOT recommend more than one coat. Sealant is meant to bind to the porous asphalt surface and it is not meant to bind on top of layers of sealcoat. Many people over sealcoat their driveways, which causes surface cracking (the sealant not the driveway), peeling, and flaking. On high traffic areas of commercial jobs - we will spray a top coat after the first coat has dried, but for residential driveways one coat is best.

What is the difference between resurfacing and sealcoating my drive?

Some people look at Sealcoating as resurfacing the driveway. This is partially true - with one caveat. Sealcoating does not fill in bumps, gaps, voids, etc. It binds to the surface and texture irregularities, so it is not changing the surface texture - it is sealing it. Think of it almost like shrink wrap over the top of the driveway. The sealcoat does add a layer of durability, improves the look, and helps the driveway last longer - among many other things. But - it is not resurfacing the asphalt.

An asphalt overlay is possible in some situations and that is essentially a thin layer of asphalt that is paved/rolled over the existing asphalt driveway.

What is your quoting process?

Once you have requested a quote, a member of our team will review and triage the request to the right team member. The person bidding the quote will determine if we need to review the driveway in person or if we can quote it using our Asphalt quoting software system. If you’d prefer to have an on-site visit to review the driveway with one of our team members, we would be happy to support that.

Do I need to be home when you look at my driveway?

You can certainly request to be present for an on-site review. However, it is not required. Typically, if you are looking at extending the size of your driveway, changing the shape, or have other more specific questions - we prefer that you are present so we can ensure we are understanding the full scope of work.

How long does it usually take to receive a finalized quote?

Quoting timeframes are updated on our website (on the request page) and in the automated email you receive after submitting a request. We do our best to be as efficient as possible.

How do I approve my quote?

After receiving your quote, you will be able to view the details from your personalized client hub. If you are ready to move forward, simply click “approve” on the bottom of the screen and follow the prompts.

When is a deposit or down payment due?

If you are moving forward with a paving service, we require a 50% down payment to be paid once you approve the quote. From there - we work to schedule a mutually agreeable date of service on our calendar. This guarantees that we have time on our calendar reserved for you and allows us to properly plan for other customers' services throughout the season.

SEALCOATING

How does scheduling work?

We build our schedule based on the order in which we receive quote approvals - first in, first out. We also build schedules based on logistics to ensure our crews are operating as efficiently as possible in an effort to keep our costs down and pass those savings on to you. Every weekend our crew leads meet to create and update the schedule and from there, we provide email updates.

Can I request a service date?

We try our best to accommodate scheduling requests - but we ask that you remain somewhat flexible as there are factors we cannot control that may impact our schedule or ability to provide you with your preferred dates.

Do you work on weekends?

Our season is short and we make the most of our time to ensure we are moving projects forward as efficiently as possible. As a result, your service may be scheduled on a weekend date.

How can I confirm my appointment?

As schedules are created or updated - you will receive email updates every weekend. When you are given a date of service, the email will very clearly outline what is required of you to confirm the appointment. Please be sure to read the email and any linked information in its entirety. If the date of service does NOT work for you - please reply to that email directly or call us and let us know so that we can work to find a new date of service ASAP.

PAVING:

We will work with you to find mutually agreeable dates of service on the calendar. Typical asphalt paving projects take 1-2days. Your deposit will hold your dates of service on the calendar.

How do I prepare for my service?

On the date of service, we ask that you are fully prepared BEFORE our crews arrive.

Please review the information found at this link to properly prepare for your service.

Do I need to be home at the time of service?

You do NOT need to be home at the time of service. In fact, most of our customers are not. If you'd prefer to be home at the time of service, that is no problem. However - we can only give approximate time frames on when the crew may arrive.

When will the crew arrive?

Crews do not operate off time-based appointments. The crew plans their route working furthest from the shop and making their way back towards the shop throughout the day. They typically start their first driveway at 7AM. Every driveway is different and the time it takes to complete each service varies. We can provide rough timeframes to plan off of, but please know that there is no guarantee on the accuracy of those timeframes.

How long does the service take?

Every driveway is different and there are many factors that impact the amount of time it takes to complete a service. Our standard service on a standard driveway will typically take about 45 minutes to complete minutes, on average. Some driveways take less time and some take more.

How does weather impact my date of service?

We monitor the weather very closely throughout each day. Any decision to delay or cancel services is made with your best interest in mind.

Temperatures need to be consistently 50+ degrees on the date of service and for the following 8-12 hours. However - if temperatures are too high, it can be unsafe for our crews to work and the quality of service can be negatively impacted from the heat of the driveway and the rapid flash drying of sealant.

Rain is our worst enemy. Driveways need to be 90% dry (with no standing water) at the time a crew arrives. Depending on the heat, amount of sun hitting a driveway, tree coverage/shade, etc. a driveway may need more or less time to dry after completion and before rainfall. If there is a chance that the quality of application will be jeopardized by rainfall - we will NOT complete the service. We will communicate a rescheduled date of service ASAP.

When is payment due?

As noted in the terms and conditions of the quote, payment is due on the date of service. Late fees will be assessed for payments made past the deadline.

How do I pay for my service?

You may pay with cash or a check at the time of service. If you’d prefer to pay with a credit or debit card you will receive an invoice via email and/or text message to pay securely online through your client hub. In either situation, you will have access to the invoice through your client hub. You will also receive a receipt of payment via email.

If you are NOT home at the time of service and you’d prefer to pay with cash or a check, be sure to communicate in your confirmation email where you will leave the payment for the crew to collect.

Why do I need to pay a deposit for my paving job?

A deposit is collected as a way to secure your commitment to the project and cover any upfront expenses. Asphalt paving projects require significant investment in terms of labor, materials, and equipment. By collecting a deposit, we are ensuring your commitment to moving forward with the project so that we can plan our resources accordingly.

When paying with cash do you receive a discount?

No - regardless of your form of payment, they are all processed and recorded the same way by our back office business and accounting team. In other words, we do things by the book.

Will I receive a receipt after payment?

Yes, but we are paperless. Copies of invoices and receipts for payment can be accessed and downloaded from your client hub. You may also reach out directly to us to obtain a copy.

How do I give a tip to the crew?

Tips are appreciated - but never required. Crews keep 100% of the tips they are paid. You can tip them with cash, include the tip amount in the check, or pay a tip when you make an online payment. Our crews appreciate your generosity.

When can I drive, ride, walk, or glide on my freshly sealcoated driveway?

At a minimum we ask that you remain off the driveway and keep the tape up for 24 hours after the service is completed. If possible - please stay off the driveway and keep the tape up for 48 hours.

I thought my driveway would look smoother after sealcoating services?

This is a common misunderstanding. Sealcoating emulsion dries and shrinks to protect and seal the porous asphalt surface. It is not thick enough or meant to be thick enough to make for a smooth surface. As the sealant dries and shrinks you will still see all the surface textures and irregularities. In fact, for about the first month after sealcoating services are completed - you may notice things on your driveway you’ve never noticed before. This is due to the driveway being extremely clean and the surface now being a deep, rich black, uniform color.

I am curious about how the cracks on my driveway look - can you tell me more about them?

First, crack filling products are only meant to be used on larger cracks that go down towards the base of the asphalt (not surface cracks) - generally the cracks that run horizontally through your driveway. As noted in the quote, we only fill the cracks with crack filler that are too big to be properly sealed by sealcoat.

Secondly, the crack filling product is applied at 400 degrees and is runny. As it dries - it forms into a solid, but flexible rubber. There is no way to tell how deep a crack is until the product is fully dried beneath the surface. In most cases, our crews are long gone by the time a crack is fully dried and in its final position.

If there are cracks that need to be touched up - simply reach out, send a photo, and we will schedule a crew to stop by and touch them up.

Keep in mind - the crack filling product does not need to be flush with the surrounding asphalt surface in order for cracks to have been effectively treated.

Once you have a crack on your driveway, you will always have that crack. There is no way to reverse the cracking. In order to maintain the integrity of the asphalt surface and prevent cracks from getting worse - routine sealcoating and crack filling services are recommended.

Cracking happens as a result of the freezing and thawing cycles we experience. Your driveway will shift as the ground beneath it moves, water gets underneath and to the base material, etc. There is no way to control this movement of the earth and your driveway. Keep in mind - cracks that were filled the previous season, may open up due to shifting throughout the winter and spring seasons.

I am noticing tire marks and scuffs on my driveway. Is this normal?

Yes, especially when temperatures are high. This is very common and temporary. In many cases, your driveway has never been cleaner than after it has been sealcoated. Anything on your tires is being tracked through your driveway and you are also scuffing the surface by turning your wheels. This does not impact the sealants ability to do its job. Any marks or scuffing you may see will subside within a month's time.

How often should I sealcoat my driveway?

We recommend it every 2-3 years. Depending on how you use your driveway and how quickly you wear through the product - you may be able to sealcoat more often.

What causes the most wear and tear to a sealcoated asphalt surface?

The more traffic you have on your driveway - the quicker it will wear. Think about your vehicles, your kids vehicles, trailers, RVs, etc. Various methods of snow removal, salt usage, etc. can also cause the product to wear quicker. Even consistent water draining down your driveway can cause patterns of wear. Every driveway and situation is different, so there is no “one size fits all” approach.