Is Your Asphalt Ready for Sealcoating?

Experienced asphalt contractors advise their customers to make sure that a new pavement receives an application of sealcoating within the pavement’s first year of life. The professionals know that asphalt sealcoating is a remarkably economical and effective way to ensure a much longer life for your pavement when performed as part of a comprehensive maintenance plan. Furthermore, sealants increase your property’s curb appeal and make the pavement more resistant to slips and skids. It is not always easy to know when to call a sealcoating contractor, however. If you are not sure that your asphalt pavement is ready to be sealed, the following information may help.

Is Your Asphalt Ready for Sealcoating?

How Old Is Your Asphalt Pavement?

If your pavement is only a few months old, it may not be ready for sealant. Asphalt contains oils that must be allowed to escape before sealing. If you attempt to apply a sealant prematurely, the sealant cannot bond with the pavement or cure properly. You can check your pavement’s readiness by pouring a little clean water onto the asphalt’s surface in several locations. If you can feel or see an oily film in or on the water, your pavement is not yet ready to be sealed.

What Is the Predominate Color of Your Asphalt Pavement?

New asphalt pavement has a dark, rich color that provides an excellent contrast to pavement markings. As the pavement ages and suffers the effects of exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the color begins to fade. Typically, it will turn a dark gray and grow progressively lighter over time. As a general rule, the lighter the color of your asphalt pavement, the more desperately it needs to have a sealant applied.

When Was the Last Application of Sealant Applied?

The pavement’s use is the primary factor determining the interval between sealcoating applications. For example, the customer and employee parking lot at an average grocery store usually needs to have sealant applied every other year, but the employee parking lot at a small business may only need fresh sealant every three years or so. Truck stops, warehouses and other companies that have many fully loaded tractor-trailers coming and going every day may include annual applications in their parking lot maintenance plans. If you know that your pavement has not been sealed for five or six years, it is time to call a sealcoating contractor.

Can You See Additional Warning Signs?

Other signs that you need to have a sealant applied may be harder to spot. You may notice some very small cracks in the pavement’s surface, for example. These hairline cracks do not yet pose a danger to the health of your pavement, but they will not stay minuscule for long. It is entirely possible that tiny cracks can be mended with sealant, but once they grow, you will need to have them professionally repaired. You may find some spots where automotive fluids have dripped from vehicles parked on or driving across your pavement. These fluids will eventually eat through your sealant, and once they reach your pavement, they will turn it crumbly and soft. Have your paving contractor clean these stains thoroughly; it may also be necessary to prime them before applying a sealant.

When You Need an Asphalt Professional, Contact All Pro Asphalt

All Pro Asphalt is an asphalt maintenance and sealcoating contractor that serves customers throughout the greater Kansas City area with high-quality work at affordable prices. We can sealcoat your parking lot and stripe it, repair your streets, install an asphalt overlay, repair concrete, use infrared paving to repair your asphalt pavement, install new concrete or handle your asphalt paving needs. We have an outstanding reputation for superior workmanship and customer satisfaction. You can call 816-249-6800 or complete our online form to request a free quote.

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