Short answer
Crack filling plugs cracks that barely move, usually with a less flexible filler. Crack sealing uses hot, rubberized sealant built to stretch with cracks that open in winter and close in summer. Most South Jersey driveway cracks move with freeze and thaw, so hot rubberized sealing lasts longer.
People use the two terms interchangeably, and plenty of contractors do too. The difference matters because the wrong one comes back out of the crack in a season.
The short version
| Crack filling | Crack sealing | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Cracks that barely move, wide or older cracks | Working cracks that open and close with temperature |
| Material | Less flexible filler, often cold-pour | Hot-applied rubberized sealant |
| How long it lasts | Shorter | Longer, because it stretches instead of pulling loose |
Either way, filling or sealing the cracks on a typical driveway runs $75 to $300, depending on how many linear feet there are.
How to tell which you have
Look at the same crack in January and in July. If it is noticeably wider in winter, it is a working crack, and it needs a sealant that can stretch. Most thermal cracks in South Jersey driveways behave this way because the ground freezes and thaws dozens of times a winter.
Cracks in a web pattern, the ones that look like alligator skin, are a different problem. They mean the base underneath has failed in that spot, and no filler or sealant fixes that. That area needs to be cut out and patched.
When to do it
Fall, before the first hard freeze. Water that gets into an open crack in November freezes, expands and turns a hairline crack into a pothole by March. Filling or sealing cracks is also step one of any proper sealcoating job, because sealcoat alone does not fill a crack.
Can I seal driveway cracks myself?
Hairline cracks can be handled with a retail pourable filler. Hot rubberized sealant needs a melter and a clean, dry, warm crack, which is why wider working cracks are usually a professional job.
Should cracks be filled before sealcoating?
Yes. Sealcoat is a thin coating that bridges over a crack without filling it, so the crack reopens under it. Fill or seal cracks first, then sealcoat.
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