I have a question for those familiar with asphalt.

[LuckyCharms]

I have a double wide asphalt driveway that butts up against a garage that is attached to my home.

The home and the garage are covered with white vinyl siding. At the bottom of the siding, there is the typical white channel trim piece that is used to catch the rain that drips down from the siding. Directly under that trim piece is where the asphalt meets the siding.

There is a consistent 1/8 inch wide opening between the asphalt and the bottom trim piece on either side of the garage door. It is not something that is noticeable, but it is problematic because the wasps like to get into that opening and build underground nests.

I need to put some product on the asphalt that will seal that gap NEATLY. It's two 4-foot sections. I've used that asphalt patch before that you trowel-on, but the gap is so narrow that it would be hard to get a neat looking job by using that to fill it.

I was thinking of using that foam in a can stuff, but that stuff is yellow, and would be quite noticeable. My last thought was to use "duct seal", which is that gray/black stuff that comes in a brick. It's like clay, so you can tear off a chunk of it and mold it with your hands into a thin rope and try to jam it into the gap. However, I'm not sure how that would look, and I'm not sure if the wasps could just bore right through that stuff.

I've taken care of the previous active nests, but I want to seal those gaps up soon before the wasps try again this spring.

Any ideas on what product to use?

Thank you in advance!

[gibraltar72]

1. Why wouldn't caulking work?

[LuckyCharms]

5. Thank you. See below. n/t

[RKP5637]

2. Why not just use a cartridge of exterior clear caulk and caulk the seam ... maybe. n/t

[blueinredohio]

3. Asphalt crack sealer?

[Lochloosa]

6. It would work but it's always blacker than asphalt.

It would be noticable.

[Lochloosa]

4. Lucky, you are correct on the duct seal. It never hardens

The wasp would just use it in their nest like clay. I have asphalt subcontractors that I can ask. I'll get back to you tomorrow.

[Mosby]

7. Don't use the foam.

Use an asphalt sealer in a calk gun tube.

[csziggy]

8. I've seen "brush" edges that go at the bottom of garage doors

I'm not sure that's the name of the product - I was looking for something different but exploring garage door accessories and saw those. That might work better than adding something to the asphalt - just enough of a barrier to keep out wasps and insects without making a bump at the edge of your garage.

They are called "brush seals" - https://www.northshorecommercialdoor.com/brush-seals.html

I also saw rubber seals - https://www.northshorecommercialdoor.com/ulrugadottub.html

Not endorsing this company, they just had the products and came up in a Google search.

[LuckyCharms]

9. Thanks to each of you who responded! You put my head in the right place...

I'll use a caulk backer rod to take up some space in the gap, and then apply black waterproof roof sealant that comes in a caulk tube. I'll dust the gaps before hand just in case any of the wasps get through that.

[taxi]

10. Some homes were built in damp locations

a channel was left at joints to allow the water out. (An old wooden door may have had a saw curf cut on the ends of the rails where it meets the upright stiles; sometimes people wonder why it isn't flat across.) Where your structure meets the asphalt, and if it could hold water that could rot something, may be worth looking at.

[magicarpet]

11. There is a dark gray and I have seen black round foam pieces in various diameters of thickness,...

... that is used as caulking backing foam. You used the product in areas that need to be caulked but the gap is too deep. Caulking should not be applied to a gap any more than 1/2 inch wide or 1/2 inch thick. If the gap you want to chalk is too deep, you select the proper thickness caulking backing. Shove the caulking backing into the crack with a blunt ended object,.. often a flat bladed screwdriver is fine,.. bend the tip in a 90 degree angle near the point if your gap is hard to access.

Shove the foam that is thicker than the crack into the crack with your tool but do not push the foam all the way to the bottom of your crack - let the top of the foam that remains seen be even with the surface of the black top. Due to the fact the foam is dark gray it should become nearly invisible to anyone's notice.

Note you could also spray paint the foam tube with flat black paint prior to stuffing it into the crack. If you are really fussy about a color march, or making it totally inconspicuous.

See link below for product.
Available at most hardware stores, HomeDepot, and Lowes.
That should stop the bees and hornets from accessing that gap/crack.
Hope this helps.




https://www.homedepot.com/b/N-5yc1v/Ntk-google/Ntt-Foam%2Bbacking%2Btubing%2Bfor%2Bdeep%2Bcaulking%2Bcracks?NCNI-5

[jmowreader]

12. There is an asphalt crack patch that comes in a caulk tube

You could also use Henry 208R Wet Patch Roof Cement with backer rod under it.

When you install it, do this: squeeze the filler into the joint, then use a tool (trowel, six inches of 1x2, paint scraper, whatever you like) to smooth the top of the filler. Give it a month or so to cure, then apply a coat of asphalt sealer to the whole driveway to make it pretty.

[Totally Tunsie]

13. Have you considered the Flex Seal line of products?

They have a rubberized spray as well as a moldable paste that might solve the problem, and it comes in black. Their product line is quite comprehensive, and might fill your needs.

https://flexsealproducts.com/#2

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