Process for Sealcoat Maintenance
If you are having a new parking lot constructed or a driveway installed in your property, probably the first recommendation you get from experts would be to use asphalt pavement, because it is durable, eco-friendly, economical, and requires less maintenance. Furthermore, the time taken to install asphalt will be only half of what it would take to install concrete. It is for these reasons, and a whole lot more, that asphalt pavement are widely popular and preferred for residences and commercial spaces alike.
Sealcoat Maintenance
When you have an asphalt surface, one of the first protective measures you will have to take would be to sealcoat it. Sealcoating is a process that is used to protect your asphalt pavement from different elements, such as water, UV rays, and also petroleum products like gasoline, oil, brake fluid, etc., and also to prevent early oxidation.
If it is a single coat application, the sealcoat on your asphalt surface will last for around two to three years. On the other hand, if you have a two-coat application of the sealcoat done, it can last for anywhere between four and six years.
When it comes to the durability of a sealcoat , it depends of various factors, such as: the type of traffic exposure, the amount of traffic the surface is exposed to, the sealer’s dilution rate, ground temperature and ambient temperature at the time of sealcoat application, exposure to standing water, etc.
In order to maintain the longevity of a sealcoat, you need to be accurate with the ground and ambient temperatures. If the temperature of the existent surface is more than 120oF during the coolest part of the day, there is every chance for the material to deteriorate easily. On the other hand, if the ground and ambient temperatures are less than 55oF, it will cause the material to freeze and deteriorate. The manufacturer’s application instructions should be checked before starting with the process.
Sealcoat applied to public areas like the main drives of streets and parking lots, intersections, etc. will receive a whole lot more traffic, as a result of which the sealcoat will get damaged quickly. This happens in commercial or office spaces as well in areas where traffic is high. In such cases, it is recommended that a third coat of sealcoat is applied to maintain the asphalt surface.
In order for the sealcoating process to be done properly, the prepping of the surface plays a crucial role. The asphalt surface to be worked on should be really clean, and any crack that is larger than ¼-inch should be filled with good quality crack filler. In addition to helping complete the sealcoating process successfully, this step also makes sealcoat maintenance easy. And if you wish to protect the investment you make on your asphalt pavement, coming up with a sealcoat maintenance program with a reliable company in your neighborhood would be the right solution. This regular maintenance helps extend the life of your asphalt surfaces and also minimizes your maintenance costs in the long run.
