Being a homeowner means handling the upkeep and maintenance of your property, including the driveway. One of the actions you can take this time of year is to sealcoat it.

"Sealcoating protects driveway. There's different types: cold tar emulsion, asphalt emulsion, and acrylic. UV from the sun is biggest thing. It'll dry out the binder in the asphalt and cause it to crumble. There's also the winter. You have your ice, your plowing, snow, all the salt, and sand that you put onto the driveway can do damage to it and cause erosion and for it to dry out as well," said Dominic Sallee, a sealcoating professional.

How often should you have this done? That depends on the age of your driveway.

"If you have a new driveway, two years in a row, the first two years. After that every two to three years. The seal coat lasts quite a long time. You don't have to worry about doing it that often. You don't want to overseal it either. That causes damage to it," said Sallee.

The process can be a little messy and time consuming, but it can be done.

"First thing you have to do is clean the driveway. If you don't clean the driveway and there is a lot of dirt on it, it won't adhere to the driveway. The sealcoat won't stick to it so you have to clean it thoroughly. You want to edge the driveway and get all of the grass away from the edges of the driveway. You also have to crack the driveway, you have to make sure all of the cracks are filled in," said Sallee.

When you can have your driveway sealed depends on your climate and where you live. It can also be contingent upon the forecast.

"You want to have a nice sunny day. Can't do it when it's raining out or going to rain. It takes about half an hour to an hour to do a driveway, depending on the size. And you really don't want to drive on it for 24 to 48 hours," said Sallee.

And keep in mind there are some people out there who will try to scam you by getting you to pay up front and then never do the work. Make sure you ask around and find a reputable company. Most will give you a free estimate and not ask for payment until the services are complete.

Dominic Sallee is the Owner of Sealcoating Professionals of NY located in the Capital Region. You can connect with him on his Facebook page.