Seal coating restores faded asphalt to a smooth black appearance and forms a protective barrier against oil, water, and other chemicals. This saves money in the long run by preventing more expensive repair and replacement.
Block off the area you’re sealing. This should include the driveway, sidewalks, curbs and grass. Shut off any sprinkler systems and keep them turned off for the duration of the process. Visit https://www.rochesternysealcoating.com/ to learn more.
Asphalt is a great material for driveways and parking lots, but it isn’t indestructible. Regular use and exposure to the sun’s harsh UV rays can cause it to degrade, leaving you with a less-than-pleasant looking surface. Sealcoating is an affordable way to protect your pavement, prolonging its lifespan and adding curb appeal to your property.
When your asphalt is new, it has a deep black color that looks rich and professional. Over time, the elements can fade the asphalt’s appearance, causing it to look washed out or gray. Sealcoating restores the asphalt’s natural black hue, enhancing your property’s overall curb appeal and ensuring that potential customers have a good first impression of your business.
The smooth, dark surface of a sealcoated driveway or parking lot makes it easier to keep clean. The sealer resists oil and grease stains, so spills are less likely to absorb into the pavement and cause further damage. Additionally, weeds have a harder time growing in the cracks of unsealed pavement. If you are worried about your commercial or residential pavement’s cleanliness, contact a reputable and experienced sealcoating contractor to schedule a service appointment.
Another benefit of sealcoating is that it can help to prevent the need for expensive paving repairs in the future. Over time, the sun’s UV rays can cause the aggregate in asphalt to loosen, which can lead to cracks and potholes. Sealcoating is an inexpensive solution to protect your pavement and postpone the need for costly repairs.
It is important to note that sealcoating involves working with liquid chemicals and should only be done by professional paving contractors with the proper training and equipment. The coal tar emulsions that are used to create the sealant produce fumes during the curing process, which can pose health risks for workers who don’t have the appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment). When working with these chemicals, safety should always be a priority. For additional security, it is recommended that workers wear hard hats, impervious gloves, and face masks. A properly prepared sealcoat can last up to 5 years if temperatures remain above 65 degrees Fahrenheit, so it is well worth the investment!
Prevents Water Damage
Asphalt pavement is a combination of rock and stone aggregate held together with a binder that is produced by the distillation of crude oil. The degradation of this binder is accelerated by weather conditions like rain and UV rays, and this causes the surface to weaken and crack over time. Keeping the binder intact with regular sealcoating prevents this process and prolongs the life of your driveway or parking lot.
As the name implies, sealcoating fills in small cracks and holes to help protect your pavement from water damage. It also creates a barrier that helps keep water from infiltrating the cracks and damaging the sub-base beneath. Water that seeps into asphalt cracks can freeze in cold temperatures, expanding them and further damaging the surface. Sealcoating helps to protect the integrity of your parking lot or driveway and can save you money by preventing future repairs and maintenance.
While this is not a guarantee that your pavement will never be damaged, it does greatly reduce the likelihood of damage. Sealcoating is typically done in the spring and fall, as this is the best time to ensure the work can be completed before freezing temperatures. It requires temperatures above 50 degrees and a period of 24 hours without heavy rain, which can wash away the new layer.
During the sealcoating process, workers spread a new layer of material over the existing asphalt surface. It is usually dark in color to improve the curb appeal of your property. The new surface is then buffed to remove any loose particles and to make it smooth for the next car or pedestrian to drive on.
Once the sealant is applied, it can take up to two days for the surface to cure and dry completely. During this time, traffic can be allowed on the surface at reduced speeds. Hot summer days help the process along by increasing the speed at which the asphalt dries.
Once the sealant is dried, your driveway or parking lot will be safe to use and will look great. It will have a dark, sleek appearance that looks brand-new and is much easier to clean than old, cracked pavement.
Prevents Sun Damage
The sun’s UV rays can quickly dry out asphalt, which makes it brittle and much more susceptible to cracks, chipping, and general wear and tear. Sealcoating creates a barrier that helps to protect the asphalt from the sun, which can extend the lifespan of the blacktop and keep it looking good for longer.
The protective coating prevents oxidation of the bitumen, and also fills in any new or larger cracks that may have developed over time. This will help to prevent water from leaking into these cracks and causing more serious damage underneath the surface.
Sealcoating will also help to protect the paved surface from oil, fuel, and chemical spills. While it will not stop these substances from seeping into the asphalt and destroying it, it will slow down how quickly they degrade and cause damage. This can save you money in the long run by preventing the need for a costly resurfacing project in the future.
Besides protecting the asphalt from oil and other chemicals, the sealcoat will prevent sunlight from damaging the pavement as well. The dark color of the sealcoat absorbs the sun’s rays and blocks them from the asphalt, helping to prevent the deterioration that leads to faded, grey-looking pavement.
If you want your driveway or parking lot to look as good as possible, sealcoating is an excellent investment for you to make. It can protect the paved surface from weather conditions, inclement weather, and damage caused by cars, trucks, and other vehicles.
When deciding when to schedule your asphalt sealcoating, it’s important to consider the temperature and humidity. Rainy or humid weather will negatively impact the process. Humidity causes the sealcoat material to take longer to dry, which can compromise the quality of the finished product. Also, if the weather is too hot, it will bake the sealcoat and reduce its effectiveness.
Prevents Oil and Gas Spills
Over time, asphalt surfaces lose their rich black color and become faded and gray. Sealcoating restores the original dark appearance of the pavement, presenting a clean and well-maintained image to your customers and visitors. This is important to your business, as people think highly of businesses that take care of their property.
The rich black color of the sealant also helps to hide oil spills and other stains, further improving the look of your parking lot or driveway. It’s not just vanity, though; the smooth surface created by the sealant also enhances traction and reduces accidents caused by driving over uneven pavement.
Oil and gas spills can be a major problem for asphalt surfaces, as they penetrate into the pores of the pavement, softening it and causing structural problems. A good quality asphalt sealant will have additives that make it resistant to petroleum-based chemicals, so it won’t absorb the spills and cause damage. This prevents the need for costly repairs or replacement of the asphalt.
While regular maintenance is key to extending the life of your asphalt pavement, a good asphalt sealant is a must for protecting this investment. By acting as a barrier against sun, water, oil and chemical penetration, this process will greatly extend the life of your pavement and minimize the need for expensive repair or replacement.
Before a sealcoat is applied, the asphalt surface must be cleaned and cracks filled to ensure proper adhesion of the sealant. It’s a good idea to have this done by professionals, as they will be able to ensure that the surface is ready for the application of the sealant and that it is applied evenly.
If you are looking to protect and prolong the life of your commercial parking lot or asphalt driveway, consider having it sealed this summer. The sealant is quick to apply and dries quickly, so it won’t interfere with daily activities. The low cost of this preventive maintenance will greatly outweigh the potential expense of repairing or replacing your asphalt in the future.