Preserving Your Asphalt Pavement
Asphalt Sealcoating Pavement— a mixture of rock and gravel— is held together with a binder called asphalt cement. As time goes on, the natural elements (such as the sun’s UV rays, snow, rain, etc.) begin physically degrading both the binder and, in turn, the surface of the asphalt pavement. This makes the asphalt brittle, which eventually leads to an unsafe surface for pedestrians and drivers alike.
In order to preserve the life of your asphalt pavement for as long as possible, it’s important for you to maintain the integrity of its binder. This is done through the application of asphalt sealcoating, which both protects and improves the appearance of the pavement. The more that you practice your due diligence with regard to sealcoating your asphalt surface, the greater you’ll extend its overall life.
Lengthening Your Asphalt Pavement’s Life with Asphalt Sealcoating
In order to lengthen the life of your asphalt pavement, it’s important that you follow a maintenance program of sealcoating the surface as needed. Your parking lot and/or driveway will thank you later, and so will your bank— after all, it’s much cheaper to maintain an already existing asphalt pavement than to build a completely new one. This saves you thousands of dollars in the long run.
Asphalt sealcoat is a bituminous- or acryclic-based formulation mixed with silica sand, polymer additives, water, and a few other fillers. It can be applied by spray, brush, or a squeegee.
Sealcoating provides a protective layer to your asphalt that blocks out the corrosive effects of nature’s physical elements. When applied according to manufacturer’s specifications, it provides a safe, slip-resistant, and sleek finish in a beautiful, monochromatic black color— leaving your asphalt driveway or parking lot looking pristinely beautiful.
Tips for Applying Asphalt Sealcoating on Your Own
If and when you should decide to apply asphalt sealcoating to your pavement on your own, it’s important that you follow these tips to ensure the most precise application:
- You should apply 2 coats of sealcoat at minimum.
- When preparing a day to sealcoat your asphalt surfaces, make sure to choose a day where temperatures stay above 50 degrees for at least 24 hours. It’s important that you don’t apply sealcoat on days that the temperature dips below 50 degrees.
- Avoid applying sealcoat on days where it might rain within the next 24 hours.
- Once you’ve fully applied sealcoat on the designated areas, make sure it cures for at least 24 hours before allowing vehicles to tread the surface.