Crack Sealing vs. Crack Filling — Which Do You Need?
Two similar-sounding services, two very different outcomes. Here's how to tell them apart.
Crack sealing and crack filling are often used interchangeably — but they're not the same product, and they don't last the same amount of time.
Crack filling
Cold-pour, unmodified asphalt emulsion. Cheap, easy, lasts 1–2 years. Fine for hairline cracks in a driveway that gets resealed soon.
Crack sealing
Hot-applied, polymer-modified rubberized sealant. Flexes with freeze-thaw movement, bonds to crack walls, lasts 5–8 years. This is what we use on commercial work — the cost difference is small and the lifespan difference is huge.
If a contractor quotes you 'crack filling' for a commercial lot, ask what product they're using. The right answer is hot-applied rubberized sealant meeting ASTM D6690.