Crack Filling vs Sealcoating: What Is the Difference?
What crack filling and sealcoating each do, the order they go in, and the weather each one needs.
Crack filling puts rubberized or cold-applied filler into individual cracks; sealcoating spreads a thin protective coat over the whole surface. SealMaster says cracks should be filled before sealing, and that periodic crack filling plus sealcoating will more than double the life of asphalt pavement.
Crack filling
SealMaster, a pavement maintenance manufacturer, says cracks are filled with hot-pour or cold-applied crack fillers. Hot rubberized sealants are ideally applied between 45 and 65 degrees in areas with cold winters, when cracks are opened wider. Cold-applied materials are commonly used on home driveways and need warm, dry weather. Cold-applied filler should cure 24 hours before traffic; hot pour needs 15 to 20 minutes to cool.
Sealcoating
SealMaster says sealcoating prevents oxidation of the asphalt binder and weather damage, is applied in two coats, and needs 50 degrees and rising for a 24-hour period with no rain expected. It says the surface should be clean, repairs made and cracks filled before the sealer goes down.
The order
Fill first, then seal. SealMaster says a systematic maintenance program that includes periodic crack filling and sealcoating will more than double the life of asphalt pavement.
Keep reading
Frequently Asked Questions
No. SealMaster says cracks should be filled with a crack filler before the sealer is applied.
Crack fill first. SealMaster's sealcoating guidance says cracks should be filled before sealing.
Sources
The figures on this page come from these sources, read on 2026-09-25. None of them is South State Paving's own claim.
- SealMaster, How to repair cracks in asphalt pavement
- SealMaster, Sealcoating FAQ