Most pavement and driveway owners know that they should get their driveway seal coated, but they aren’t sure exactly what it is or why it should be done. We’ll give you the answer to that first question as a bonus! Seal coating is when a professional applies a coal tar emulsion mix over the top of asphalt pavement to protect it and keep it looking new. Think of seal coating like putting sunscreen on before heading out for a day at the beach.