Whether you manage a parking lot, an industrial complex, or your residential driveway, regular asphalt seal coating is necessary. It preserves the life of your paved surface while providing a sleek finish that boosts curb appeal.
Ideally, seal coating is done in spring through fall, when temperatures are moderate, and there is no chance of rain within 24 hours of application. Visit Website to learn more.
A quality seal coat gives asphalt pavement a rich black appearance that enhances your property’s value and curb appeal. It helps hide minor cracks, patches and rough spots on driveways and parking lots, while protecting the pavement from damage caused by sun exposure, water and chemical spills, oil penetration and abrasion from vehicular traffic. Regular maintenance and sealcoating protects a paved surface from degrading and prevents future costly repairs.
The process of sealcoating involves several stages. First, a professional pavement contractor will assess the condition of the asphalt and determine if it needs to be sealed. Pavement in good condition may not need seal coating at all, especially if it was recently resurfaced.
Next, the area to be sealed is thoroughly cleaned. The crew will use blowers, brooms and sweepers to remove any dirt, debris or mud. They’ll also brush off any oil and grease spots on the asphalt surface. Linear cracks will be filled with a hot rubberized crack filling compound.
A concrete cleaning product will be applied to the asphalt pavement before a sealcoat is applied. This will loosen any dirt or grime stuck in the pores of the pavement, making it easier for the seal coat to bond with the surface. The surface will then be blown clean with air pressure from a compressor.
Once the area has been cleaned, a primer is applied to the asphalt to help the sealcoat adhere to the pavement. The primer is typically made of coal byproducts or similar acrylics, which are mixed with silica, fillers, additives and other materials to make it a semi-liquid material.
Two applications of the sealcoat are then applied to the paved surface using state-of-the-art spray application equipment. The crew will usually brush the trim areas by hand to reduce the possibility of overspray on sidewalks, curbs and buildings.
Once the sealcoat has been applied, it’s important to let it dry completely before vehicles are allowed back on the surface for safety reasons and to ensure that the sealcoat dries and bonds properly. A 24-48 hour period is typically required for the sealcoat to fully cure.
Spraying
In the sealcoating process, the paving surface is cleaned of all dirt, debris, stone and oil spots. The crew will then use high powered blowers and brushes to leave a clean surface that can easily take the new coat of sealer without interfering with its ability to do its job.
The area being sealed must be barricaded off and all vehicles removed. The crew should also turn off sprinklers so that the pavement doesn’t get wet during or after application. It’s a good idea to close off the paved area to pedestrians as well. All vehicles should be off the road for 24 hours after the sealcoating has been applied and until it’s dried.
Workers will apply the first layer of sealer using either a spray application or a squeegee machine. Spraying is faster and allows the crew to cover a larger area in a fraction of the time that it takes using a squeegee. However, it’s more likely that the crew will miss spots using the spray method, and a thicker application may not be achieved.
Squeegee applications typically produce a better bond between the pavement’s surface and the sealant, forcing the sealant into any surface cracks or voids. However, it is more time consuming than using a sprayer.
Both methods have their advantages and drawbacks, and a conscientious sealcoating company will be able to obtain quality results with either one. However, a sprayer is the best choice for large areas when time is short.
A well-done asphalt sealcoat looks like new pavement and protects it from damage caused by water infiltration, oxidation, sun exposure, chemicals and vehicular traffic. In addition, it fills in cracks and small holes, making the paved area more even and visually appealing to customers and tenants.
Regular sealing will extend the lifespan of the paved surface, reducing the need for costly repaving. It will also help keep the surface flexible and able to withstand pressure from vehicle tires, minimizing the risk of fractures and potholes. And finally, it will protect the asphalt from oil and fuel spills and chemical substances that soften or degrade the paved surface.
Squeegeeing
Asphalt is a mix of rock and stone, held together by a binder that is made from distilled crude oils. The sun’s UV rays and the oxidation of these oils degrade the asphalt over time. This deterioration creates an unsafe and unsightly surface that can be slippery when wet. The pavement loses its jet-black finish and can become brittle over time. Seal coating protects asphalt pavement from the elements and can double its life span.
Professional asphalt sealcoating is an affordable option that enhances and extends the performance of your existing driveway or parking lot. While it cannot repair cracks or patch potholes, a regularly scheduled maintenance program will more than double the life of your asphalt surface.
The first step in the process is preparing the pavement by removing oil and gas spots. Then, the contractor sprays a thin coat of coal tar, asphalt emulsion or acrylic sealer onto the surface. The squeegee is then used to spread the material across the surface and press it into the pores of the pavement.
A properly applied seal coat can fill in small cracks, and provide a smooth surface that is safer to walk on. It can also restore the black color to faded asphalt. Seal coats help the pavement last longer and make it easier to clean and maintain.
Depending on the surface and environment, both squeegee and spray methods can be effective. However, squeegeeing is more labor intensive and requires more skill than spraying. Spraying is faster, but it can be difficult to control the thickness and uniformity of the application.
When choosing a method, workers should be trained to use the equipment safely and effectively. Coal tar and other emulsions contain toxic chemicals that can cause health issues, so workers should wear protective clothing to prevent exposure. They should also understand the importance of letting the sealer dry for 24 hours before driving over it again.
The best time of year for sealcoating is spring through fall. This is because the sealant needs to be hot and dry to set correctly. During this period, there is less chance of rain that can interfere with the curing process.
Drying
When the sealcoating is applied, it must dry before vehicles are allowed to drive over it. This is another reason why the process needs to be done when temperatures are warm and there is no chance of rain for at least 24 hours after the material is applied.
Humidity is a major factor in how quickly the sealcoat will dry. This is because the sealcoating film is water-based and must lose the water through evaporation. The more humidity in the air, the slower this evaporation will take place.
The ideal time to do seal coating is late spring, summer (though not during scorching heat), or fall. These are the best times for this project because the weather is usually warmer and more predictable.
Once the asphalt is cleaned, oil spots are treated with an appropriate primer and oxidized surfaces are primed, it can be sealed with a tack coat or a full application of sealcoat material. This will protect the asphalt from further damage by preserving its oils, chemicals, and aggregates. It will also help prevent the deterioration of the surface by sealing cracks and filling holes in the paved area.
As the surface is dried by sunlight and the water in the tack coat or sealcoat evaporates, it becomes firm enough to withstand light traffic. In fact, depending on the sealcoating product and weather conditions, it may be possible to walk on a freshly coated driveway just three hours after it has been applied.
However, it is important to remember that a newly-sealed driveway is not fully cured until all of the water in the sealcoat has evaporated and been replaced by solid particles of binders and polymers. If the surface is not left to completely dry, it could become brittle and peel away from the asphalt.
A properly-dried sealcoated surface is able to retain its strength, flexibility, and ability to resist the penetration of water, oil, and other chemical substances. It is able to do all of this because it acts as an adhesive layer holding together any loose aggregate and fines in the asphalt, a water barrier stopping the penetration of oil and other fluids, and a shield protecting the asphalt from oxidation.