Black top driveway sealer

[Nite Owl]

I had my driveway sealed on Tuesday. The guy said it would take up to 24hrs to dry. It's 36hrs and it is still wet, really wet. It's still shiney. He used latex sealer. It looks like rain out now and somewhere in my neighborhood there is a cat with little black paws. It was almost 70 degrees here yesterday and sunny and was about 60 degrees when he put it on. What happens if it rains and turns colder? My sons are parked on our neighbors driveway and my car is in the garage so I can't get out. He's coming back to look it over this afternoon.

The driveway was newly blacktopped in April so this is it's first sealing.

[Robb]

1. I've always heard 24-48 hours to cure

It should be cured enough to withstand a little drizzle by now, but I sure wouldn't drive on it before 48 hours.

[Nite Owl]

2. It's raining out now and I just

put a paper towel on the driveway to see what would come off and it was all black goo. It's supposed to rain until Sunday. It can't be walked on at all.

[Warpy]

4. I think you just got taken

by somebody using old motor oil instead of real driveway sealer. The real thing would have hardened within 24 hours at the temperatures you have been enjoying. Now you'll have to wait for all the goo to disappear before you can have the job done right.

I'm afraid it's a common scam.

[Nite Owl]

5. No he used the real stuff

I saw all the plastic containers with the labels on and saw them doing it. I think he might have used too much.

[Warpy]

7. They don't use motor oil cans

They use a motor oil mixture in a sealant can.

[Nite Owl]

8. It said Latex and had a

pic of a driveway. They were sealed and I saw them opened. It was the right stuff I think he applied it wrong.

[golddigger]

3. Hmm, who leaves their car in the friggin garage while they have

their driveway sealed!:eyes:

[Nite Owl]

6. I live on a narrow road

and you can't park on the street. I figured for one day I could stay home until my sons got home from school/work and then use one of their cars to go out later on. I didn't want to leave three cars on my neighbors driveway.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

9. I was looking toward 72 hours plus

What is the status of your driveway at current and what did your contractor say when he came back to look it over ? Is there a noticeable improvement ? Or is it about the same?

[Nite Owl]

10. He didn't come because

it was late and raining. I spoke with him this am and he is coming tomorrow, it's raining again today.
It is wet watery black and not gooey anymore as alot has seemed to have washed off in parts. I spoke with another guy who does sealing and he said it sounds like it was done right but it was done too late in the season. No harm done to the driveway it will just need to be redone when the weather warms. That's all I want from him, to do it over at his expense. He's the pro and should have known it was too late to do this or at the least that he was taking a chance. I hope he shows tomorrow or I will have to take this to small claims court.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

11. OK, so your contractor was pushing the envelope,

That goes with the territory.Sit down with the contractor and work it out. He has to fix the problem at no extra cost to you,and he was fully aware of the risk he was taking . He was playing the weather ,he gambled and he lost, that's it. Just leave the contractor know you know that. Get the agreement down on paper and have him sign it.And write down everything that is said in the minutes of the meeting and all correspondence until the driveway is finished.You don't even want to walk into small claims court and try to tell a judge how it went down as you recall in your head. Write it all down.And I assume you have been taking pictures, if not,get to it.Any question,just ask.

[Nite Owl]

12. Thanks

I have the dates and times of the calls and what was said written up and am working on the pics. My camera isn't charging and my cell phone pics aren't the best.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

13. Keep a open mind,

and give the contractor the oppertunity to fix the mess, for you, and his own self. No judge will side with a contractor that takes the money and runs. But it most likely will not come to that. Why not get yourself one of those throw away camaras just to be on the safe side for now. Five bucks,right?

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

14. And by the way,

write down in your notes that you have been keeping a open mind. This demonstrates to a judge that your suspicions did not run off over the deep end at the crisis point. Specifically date and time that entry.In a small claims court,you would refer back to that point and forward as you recall events as it all went down. Your notes would be carefully viewed by the judge in chambers.

Again, it most likely will not come down to that.