Last updated on March 31st, 2022
Seal coat driveway cost
Driveways are constantly under a lot of pressure, team that with the damp British climate and you have the perfect recipe for rapid deterioration. However, you can protect your porous driveway surface with a sealant. Applying a sealant to your concrete or block paving driveway will form a protective seal on the surface to considerably reduce the risk of damage. Find out the costs.
Driveways are constantly under a lot of pressure, team that with the damp British climate and you have the perfect recipe for rapid deterioration. However, you can protect your porous driveway surface with a sealant. Applying a sealant to your concrete or block paving driveway will form a protective seal on the surface to considerably reduce the risk of damage. In doing so, you not only improve the strength and appearance of your driveway but also extend its lifespan.
In this guide, we look at the average cost to apply a seal coat to your driveway in the UK.
How much does it cost to apply a seal coat to my driveway?
| Item | Cost - low | Cost - high | Average cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small driveway | £200 | ||
| Medium driveway | £300 | ||
| Large driveway | £400 | ||
| 2 coat resin acrylic seal per M2 (Add additional cleaning costs) | £3 | £5 | £4 |
| 1 coat on pattern imprinted concrete (PIC) driveways (Add additional cleaning costs) | £2 | £3.50 | £2.75 |
| Resiblock Superior Natural Matt 5L | £60 | ||
| Resiblock Superior Gloss 5L | £60 | ||
| Indian Sandstone Sealer Colour Enhancer | £106 |
Our costs are ballpark averages – get a local tradesperson to quote now
The average cost of sealing a driveway is around £200 to £400. The exact price you pay will depend on the size and condition of your driveway, the type of sealant you choose and the tradesperson you choose to do the work. It will also depend on the type of driveway you are sealing, whether it’s asphalt, resin-bound or block paving.
Seal coating price per square foot
If you’re looking to calculate the cost for the area of your driveway, the average cost of applying a resin acrylic seal coating is around £3 to £5 per m2 (roughly £0.30 to £0.50 per square foot) – plus the cost of cleaning.
What are the benefits of sealing your driveway?
There are a number of reasons why it’s a smart idea to seal your block paved driveway, such as:
- Protects the driveway surface from staining.
- Enhances the colour of your driveway paving and reduces colour fading.
- Increases the lifespan of your driveway.
- Stops moss and algae growing on your driveway.
- Massively reduces the likelihood of weeds growing on your driveway.
- Makes your driveway stronger and less likely to damage easily.
Types of seal coat
There are typically three types of paving sealant you can choose from: water-based, polyurethane or acrylic paving sealers.
- Water-based paving sealers. This type of sealer has the same sealing properties as solvent based alternatives, only with less impact on the environment. Though they do take longer to dry and aren’t quite as penetrative as solvent sealers.
- Polyurethane paving sealers. These are generally considered the best type of sealer to use on block paving. Polyurethane sealers tend to be more expensive but generally last longer than acrylic alternatives.
- Acrylic paving sealers. This is a good option for overall protection for your driveway, and a particularly good option if you have a concrete driveway that you need to seal. Though they’re also a popular choice for sealing block paving too.
We would always recommend speaking to your local driveway experts to get their advice on the exact sealer that will be best suited to seal your driveway.
FAQs for driveway sealing
How do I prepare my driveway for sealing?
Firstly, don’t plan to seal your driveway in winter. The sealant needs to be applied to drive paving or concrete and will need time to dry out. Therefore, you’ll want to do this at a drier time of the year so later spring or summer are good times to think about applying the seal coat to your driveway.
Before you apply a seal coat to your driveway you’ll want to make sure it’s nice and clean first. To find out more about the prices for cleaning, check out our guide to the cost of driveway cleaning.
Also, you don’t want to seal a brand new driveway. Newly laid blocks and paving slabs take time to settle in properly and to expel any salt from their surface – which can’t happen if they’ve been sealed. With that in mind, it’s best to wait a few months before applying the coat of sealant to your new driveway.
How long does it take to seal a driveway?
The process of sealing a driveway happens in a few stages:
- Cleaning the driveway – 2 to 3 hours
- Apply chemical fungicide – 30 minutes
- Leave to dry – 2 to 3 days
- Fill gaps with kiln-dried sand – 1 hour
- Apply sealant – 2 hours
How often should a driveway be sealed?
To ensure you have optimum protection for your driveway it’s recommended to seal the surface every two years.
How long after sealing the driveway can I drive on it?
It’s sensible to leave two to three days after sealing a driveway before you start driving on it. You can walk on the sealed driveway after 24 hours but wait the extra time before using it for vehicles.
Can I seal my driveway on a hot sunny day?
You can indeed, although hot weather means the sealant will dry out a lot faster. If it’s your first time sealing your driveway, we’d recommend doing it when the weather is cooler so you have more time to apply the sealer.
How to remove oil stains from a sealed driveway?
One of the joys of a sealed driveway is that stains are a lot easier to clean than with unsealed driveways. Usually, a normal pressure cleaner will remove stains, including oil as it shouldn’t have soaked into the surface of the driveway paving.
In order for the sealer to be most effective, the driveway surface needs to be in optimal conditions and the sealer applied properly. Therefore, if your driveway needs to be sealed but you’re not a confident DIY enthusiast, we would recommend hiring a professional to clean and seal your driveway.
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