You spent some money renovating your driveway. But, you are starting to notice cracks on the surface. You know you need to repair the damages before you have to do a total re-haul, which will be very costly.
Sealcoating asphalt will help prevent cracks. By filling the voids you prevent oxidation and hardening of the asphalt. If you don’t do it, the surface will become brittle and eventually crack.
What Is Seal Coating?
Sealcoating is the process of sealing the voids in the existing asphalt pavement using a liquid product. The process is common during cold or winter seasons to prevent damage due to freezing water. Chemicals from the road, salt, wind and sunlight will damage the asphalt.
Benefits of Sealcoating Asphalt
Sealcoating will provide a layer of protection to your pavement. It is a maintenance process as it will not restore damaged asphalt. You will enjoy great savings in the long run by seal coating. Let’s see more benefits below.
1. You Will Enjoy Longer Use of the Pavement
A rough pavement will not last because of the cracks. Any road surface has to contend with certain factors that could damage it. These include weather conditions like sunlight, ice, rain or snow. There are also chemicals that can corrode like gas, and oil.
Add on to the fact that there is normal wear and tear due to traffic, you have to do all you can to protect the surface.
2. Helps Create a Good Impression
People will form an impression of you right from the driveway to the home or office. If you are in business, it could impact on the level of confidence. Imagine a customer driving into your business premises, and he has to navigate through a series of cracks.
The impression the customer will get is that you’re not a serious person, if you cannot maintain your premises. Simple driveway sealcoating will take care of the problem.
3. Enhances Safety
Seal coat asphalt can help prevent accidents within your premises. It has slip-resistant qualities, and it’ll fill any voids so that no one will trip over the cracks. Sealcoating also helps make any markers, for instant directional markings visible.
4. Maintenance Assistance
Seal coat asphalt will help with the maintenance of your pavement. Think about it the same way you would when applying a fresh coat of paint every once in a while to the house. You help avoid deterioration, and a smooth surface is easy to clean. Since there’re no cracks, so the process of sweeping or even cleaning with water becomes very simple.
5. It Is Aesthetically Pleasing
The driveway sealcoating will make your pavement look great. It will bring back the original asphalt color, which may have faded due to sun damage.
6. It Will Waterproof Your Pavement
Sealcoating asphalt will make your pavement waterproof, thereby minimizing water damage. You will no longer have to worry about water seepage, or the damaging effects of rain or snow. You’ll also get protection during thaw freeze periods. Water is a major contributor to the damage on pavements or driveways.
7. You’ll Save Money
If you calculate the cost of seal coating, and the cost of repairs, the former is more cost-effective. You do not have to deal with deterioration on the asphalt surface. You also get to prevent the spread of any cracks, thus assuring you of longevity of the asphalt surface.
On average you’ll spend about 40 cents per square foot if you do the asphalt coating on your own. The cost may vary depending on what equipment you will need to buy. You’ll also need to decide on the quality of sealant you want to purchase.
You can get a 5-gallon pail within the range of $6-$9. This is enough to cover up to 400 square feet. If you can spend a little more, you’ll get better quality at about $25.
8. You Can Do It Yourself
The process of applying the sealcoating does not require you to hire an expert to do it. Using a squeegee or sprayer, it’s easy to apply and would not take a long time to complete. Do note, however; you may be required to do some repairs or surface preparation.
The work may be too much for someone who does not have the relevant expertise. Only take on the job if you’re sure you’ll be able to handle it well.
How to Seal Asphalt
There are certain steps you need to follow when seal coating. Take note of the following before and during the sealcoating process.
• Keep an eye on the weather forecast, only take on the job when you expect at least two days of dry weather
• Barricade the area and clean it; you can sweep or power wash
• Apply a liquid sealer to deep cracks; deep holes will require asphalt patching compound
• You can use sand together with the product for a non-slippery surface.
• Use a squeegee or sprayer and apply the seal coat over the entire surface. a squeegee will work best for small surfaces, but will be tedious to use over a larger area
• Do a review the next day and see what areas you may have missed
• Protect the area for 36 to 48 hours as per the manufacturer’s recommendations. Make sure no leaves or debris settle on the wet sealcoating before it sets.
• You should not use the product on any cracks that are more than 1/8th of an inch. There’re specific products that you’ll need to use to fill the hole before applying the sealcoating on the surface.
Time to Get Your Asphalt Pavement Back
Your premises, whether for business or personal purposes, need to reflect the person you are. Something as simple as a cracked pavement can give a negative impression. Sealcoating asphalt allows you to maintain your pavement or driveway in good condition.
Don’t wait for the cracks in your pavement or driveway to get to a level that will require a total overhaul. We have a team of contractors who’ll take care of the problem for you.
Talk to us today for an estimate and get your asphalt pavement back. The saving you’ll make in the long run will be worth every cent you spend.