Sealcoating is a popular way to keep blacktop driveways, parking lots, and roads in good condition. It helps prevent cracks from repairing themselves and keeps water out.
The conditions have to be suitable for seal coating. If rain is expected within 24 hours, workers must postpone the project. To learn more, visit https://www.rochesternysealcoating.com/.
Workers use squeegees or sprayers to apply the seal coat. It’s important to know how different methods work to make sure the pavement gets evenly covered.
Sealcoating is a special mixture applied to asphalt surfaces to protect them. It’s like a little jacket for your driveway or parking lot, protecting the surface from further damage and extending its lifespan.
It is a process that requires specialized equipment and training to be performed correctly. It can be very dangerous for the workers, especially if the chemicals used are carcinogenic. Workers need to wear protective clothing, including face masks and goggles. They need to ensure that vehicles are removed from the area and that pedestrians are kept away for 24 hours after application.
The ingredients in seal coats vary, but they typically include an asphalt binder (like bitumen or coal tar) and other materials such as fine sand and rubber additives. Some may also contain UV protection and anti-oxidation agents. The asphalt binder is what holds the pavement together, but it is prone to degradation by weather elements such as rain and UV rays. Protecting the pavement with a layer of seal coat helps to delay this process and keep it from becoming brittle.
To make the best seal coats, it is important to use high-quality raw materials. The sand should be clean and free of impurities such as gravel or pebbles. Using the right grade of sand is also important to get the best results. The sand should be of a size that allows it to be firmly anchored in the cured seal coat film. This will help to give the resulting surface its traction and texture.
A professional contractor will have the tools and equipment to perform this task quickly and accurately. It can save you money by avoiding the need for costly repairs or resurfacing.
It is recommended that you have your driveway or parking lot seal coated every few years, depending on its age and location. Seal coating is not cheap, but it can extend the life of your pavement and prevent it from premature deterioration. This can save you a lot of money in the long run, making the minor labor cost worth it. For commercial properties, this is even more important as a poor-quality pavement can lead to customer complaints and loss of business.
Preparation
Asphalt pavement is a mixture of rock and stone and gravel held together with an oil-based binder. When this binding agent degrades, your asphalt becomes brittle and more susceptible to damage. Regular sealcoating helps to prolong the life of your asphalt surface, protecting it from rain, UV rays and chemicals.
To get the best results from your sealcoating, it’s important that all repairs are complete and the blacktop is clean prior to application. This includes patching all cracks, filling all potholes and removing any grass or vegetation that is growing in the blacktop. If weeds or vegetation are allowed to grow, they will eventually grow into and through the asphalt, damaging it.
It’s also a good idea to sweep the pavement before the sealing process begins to remove any loose debris and dirt. Once the area is swept, it should be blown dry with a blower to eliminate any moisture that may prevent the sealcoat from adhering properly to the asphalt.
Once the surface is ready, your contractor will block off the designated area in which you would like to have the sealcoating applied. This will prevent customers, suppliers and anyone else from accessing the area during the process. If you operate a commercial parking lot, it’s best to communicate with your suppliers and clients ahead of time to let them know that the parking lot will be inaccessible for several hours while the sealcoating is applied.
Your contractor will then move to set up a work station on one side of the paved area, where they will be mixing the sealer and applying it to the paved surface with squeegees or sprayers. Typically, two coats of the sealer will be applied, and the entire area will need to be dried for 24 to 48 hours before vehicles can be driven on it again.
You’ll want to make sure that your asphalt is well protected from the elements while it’s drying, so a good quality tarp should be placed over the area. It’s also a good idea to shut off your sprinkler system, and ensure that it stays off until the area is fully cured.
Application
The asphalt paving process includes not only laying down new surfaces, but also filling in cracks and chips, repairing major asphalt damage, and resurfacing an existing surface. Sealcoating is a protective layer that is applied over the top of an asphalt surface to prevent damage from harsh weather, chemicals, water, oils, and vehicular harm. A regularly scheduled program of sealcoating can greatly extend the life of a paved surface.
To prepare for a sealcoat job, workers should remove any vehicles from the area being worked on and block off pedestrian and vehicular traffic with cones and/or barricades. Workers will then use a power broom to loosen the old coat of asphalt and remove any debris that might be stuck in the cracks or holes. It is important that the asphalt is swept clean prior to sealcoating because any dirt or sand in the mix can cause the new coating not to bond properly.
Once the surface is swept, workers will apply a bonding primer to help ensure that the new coating will adhere well. Once the primer has cured, the crew will apply two coats of sealant using either the spray or squeegee method. Both methods have their advantages, but the spray application is much faster and allows the crew to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time. It also helps to achieve a more uniform finish than the squeegee method.
During the sealcoat application, it is important that the temperature is between 50 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. If it is too hot or cold, the coating will not adhere to the pavement. The crew must let each coat dry for between 24 and 48 hours. It is also crucial that the area being sealcoated be free from rain and dew for the same duration.
The four main ingredients of any sealcoat are bitumen (a petroleum-based liquid), sand, water, and chemical additives. Some sealcoats will contain additional ingredients such as a tackifier to help it adhere to the pavement and reduce any cracking. It is also common to find sealcoats that have been infused with rubber or plastic polymers to improve flexibility and add color. Refined coal tar is often used as a sealcoat binder but has been criticized because it contributes to higher levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in streams and other waterways.
Maintenance
Sealcoating is a preventative maintenance step that extends the life of asphalt paving. It protects the surface from the elements that cause damage such as UV rays, rain and snow, oil, gasoline and other chemicals. It also prevents cracks from getting larger and helps to fill small holes.
In addition, it provides a clean and attractive look for the asphalt surface. Sealcoating is a low-cost option for extending the lifespan of asphalt surfaces, and it can help to avoid more costly repairs and resurfacing jobs in the future.
The longevity of a sealcoat depends on many factors including weather conditions, the amount and type of traffic and how well the original application was performed. However, a sealcoat that is properly maintained can last from two to five years.
It is essential that asphalt is in good condition before applying a sealcoat. Professional pavement contractors will ensure the area to be sealed is free from dirt, debris, ruts and potholes. Linear cracks will be blown out using blowers and then filled with hot rubberized crack filling material to prevent moisture from worsening the cracks.
Proper cleaning and maintenance of asphalt after the sealcoat is applied is another important factor in extending its lifespan. Sweeping and pressure washing removes accumulated materials such as sand and oil stains that can erode the sealcoat over time.
Workers need to use proper personal protective equipment when working with the sealcoat and associated equipment. This includes boots, coveralls, face masks and gloves. These materials contain toxic chemicals that, if inhaled or ingested, can cause cancer and other serious health problems.
It is also important that the area is allowed to completely cure before allowing heavy vehicles to drive over it. This typically takes a day or more depending on the weather conditions and humidity levels.