Ever wondered how all those asphalt driveways and parking lots keep from deteriorating under the constant attack from weather and traffic?

Well, the secret is asphalt sealcoating. This is applied to your pavement to make it last longer and improve its appearance.

Without protection against ultraviolet rays, rain, oil spills, and day-to-day traffic, your asphalt is highly susceptible to their damaging effects. Sealcoating forms a protective layer against cracks and potholes and allows a smooth, black finish to go along with your pavement, thus giving it that brand-new look.

Maintenance in driveways, parking lots, or roadways usually includes sealcoating since this is one way your asphalt will be in outstanding condition.

How does sealcoating work, and why is such maintenance necessary?

Read on to learn everything you need about the process of asphalt sealcoating.

1. Preparation of the Surface

Periodic maintenance and sealcoating are necessary for maintaining pavement life due to the brutal weather on asphalt.

Basic preparation begins with proper surface cleaning to remove dirt and debris along with oil-based spots; this allows adequate sealant adherence, giving it more protection against weathering and damage.

For instance, if you want to give your asphalt that fresh look to last longer, companies like Hi Grade Asphalt and Sealcoat will provide you with reliable sealcoating services. In addition, their use of high-quality, hot rubberized fillers for crack sealing makes the solution keep water off, durable, and long-lasting.

Their expert team will closely inspect your asphalt sealcoating, pinpoint problem areas, and come up with tailored solutions to restore the appeal while improving performance.

2. Mixing the Sealant

Before sealing your asphalt, the sealant must be mixed appropriately to achieve the best results. Sealcoating products are manufactured from water, asphalt emulsion, additives such as sand for texture, and other chemicals to enhance durability and performance.

For the best consistency and application, you need to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on the package. Mixing sealers with water or some other specific additives allows the material to be laid down smoothly and gives an attractive finish.

It is done to avoid lumps in the application, and improper spreading is checked by doing this. Mixing it thoroughly means that it will attach well to the asphalt and can serve its purpose in terms of wear protection and damage caused by water and weather adversities.

Taking the time to prepare the sealant properly will make your sealcoating job easier and help achieve a longer-lasting, more effective result.

3. Application of Sealcoat

Ever wondered how all those asphalt driveways and parking lots keep from deteriorating under the constant attack from weather and traffic?

There are ways of applying sealcoat to the pavement, depending on the size of your pavement and its condition.

An application for larger areas or even smoother surfaces can be made by a spray machine that helps you cover large areas quickly with equal and fine coating across the surface.

It is beneficial if you have large areas of driveways, parking lots, or roads that need sealing. For small areas or the most uneven surfaces, application by squeegee is preferred.

This allows the material to be spread evenly while giving more scope for the material to penetrate into the surface.

Squeegeeing offers greater control, especially when working around edges or uneven spots. Be it spraying or squeegeeing, what matters is to make a continuous and even application for a correct bonding of the sealant to last longer.

4. Drying and Curing

After applying the sealcoat, it is necessary to give the surface sufficient time to dry and cure. Drying and curing times will vary from 24 to 48 hours, based on weather conditions and types of sealant applied.

Warm, dry weather will quicken the process, and cool or rainy conditions will delay the same process. Now more than ever, keeping all traffic off the sealed surface will be very important, be it vehicles or foot traffic.

Even walking on it too early can mark the finish with uneven patches. You should use the surface once it’s completely cured.

This lets the sealant bond entirely to the asphalt and provides maximum protection. It will be durable, smooth, and long-lasting, thus protecting the pavement for years if you are patient enough to dry it well.

5. Final Inspection

The final check will be carried out after the seal coating has finally dried. Here, you should closely re-inspect the whole surface to be smooth, level, and without any marks or spots.

Watch for problems like stripes, air bubbles, and cracks that may form during drying. If you find any defects, this is a perfect time to make those corrections.

You can touch up the missed areas or apply an additional coat in places that need more attention.

Conclusion

Asphalt sealing will enable the growth and sustenance of your pavement’s life; this is among the most efficient ways to protect your pavement.

It acts as a shield against weather conditions, UV rays, abrasion, and other types of wear to give the look of a new surface to your driveway or parking lot and eliminate the need for repairs.

The essence of the right preparation of the surface and the proper mixing of the sealant in conjunction with the method of application or squeegee enables long life with a smooth surface.

It also enables enough time to be set aside to allow the sealant to dry and cure on the surface to give the necessary protective cover.

Therefore, with regard to these small things, your asphalt will stand the test, and the tough road will cost less in the long run.