If your asphalt pavement is stained, faded, or cracking, it might be time to restore it and make it as good as new. How is this done? Through the magic of sealcoating!
Sealcoating is a simple, inexpensive, and essential element of asphalt maintenance. It can extend the life of your pavement and ultimately save you money. Over time, the sun’s harmful UV rays, vehicle and foot traffic, rain, and vehicle fluids can damage your asphalt’s surface and cause premature cracking, fading, and more.
Regular maintenance will keep these minor damages from causing major damage that needs expensive repairs. Are you ready to learn the benefits of sealcoating and how it works?
What is Sealcoating?
Also known as pavement sealing, sealcoating is a preventative measure necessary to protect your asphalt and prevent severe damage like alligator cracks, dips, and potholes. Sealcoating is the process of applying a thin liquid layer of asphalt-based aggregate over the existing paved surface. Once applied, the fresh layer of sealcoat needs to dry and cure for 24 – 48 hours before being used again.
The best sealing weather is usually in the mornings with temps between 60°F and 90°F and clear sunny skies. In Texas, this typically means fall and early spring when temperatures are mild.
6 Facts About Sealcoating
1. Saves You Money
By maintaining your asphalt pavement with the low cost of regular sealcoating, you’re saving money in the long run. Sealcoating your asphalt surface every 2 – 3 years, or as needed, will reduce long-term repair costs and extend your pavement’s life.
2. Increases Asphalt Life Expectancy and Curb Appeal
By filling surface damage and providing a protective layer to keep out water, vehicle fluids, and damaging UV rays, sealcoating helps your asphalt pavement last longer. Regular sealcoating can increase your pavement’s lifespan by 20 – 30 years and reduce the number of serious repairs needed during that time.
Fresh sealcoating also restores your asphalt’s brand-new and clean appearance, which increases the curb appeal and value of your home or business.
3. Prevents Fading
Over time, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, standing water, and harsh weather conditions cause asphalt to fade. Fading doesn’t damage the asphalt, but it is a sign of potential damages down the road. The unappealing faded color can also cause your pavement to look neglected which may decrease your property’s value. Sealcoating your asphalt not only protects it from exposure to the elements, but it also enhances the appearance and makes it look like new.
4. Protects Against Oil and Gas Stains
Oil and gas leaks are inevitable, especially if you own a busy commercial property or have an industrial lot that services hundreds of vehicles a day. But once oil and gas stains have time to set fully, they’re virtually impossible to remove.
Besides being unattractive, the chemical compounds in oil and gas can slowly corrode your asphalt pavement by penetrating from the surface down to the subgrade and foundation. The result is an extensive (and potentially expensive) problem because it may eventually weaken your asphalt pavement’s structural integrity. Sealcoating will protect your pavement from permanent damage caused by oil and gas stains.
5. Proper Preparation is Crucial
Sealcoating isn’t a repair solution or quick fix for damages that already exist in your asphalt, it’s merely a protective measure to prevent future damages. So, before the sealcoat is applied, the surface is cleared of all dirt, oil and gas stains are removed, and minor repairs are made.
If you don’t make sure this critical step is taken before the pavement is sealed, the stains and cracks will be trapped underneath the sealcoat layer, where they’ll continue to cause serious damage. Proper cleaning and preparation before sealcoating will ensure a strong asphalt foundation.
6. Protects Against Water
We don’t have to worry about snow and ice too much here in Texas, but it’s still good to know that sealcoating causes snow and ice to melt faster. Texas does get its share of rain, though, and sealcoating will protect your asphalt from pooling water and water penetration.
If you want to save money and keep your asphalt pavement healthy, durable, and attractive, give sealcoating a try! With over 10 years of experience in the paving industry, Premium Asphalt Paving & Sealcoating provides several asphalt services, including parking lot repair, new asphalt installation, and sealcoating driveways and parking lots. Contact us today or call us at 979-428-5931 for a free quote on your next paving project. We look forward to working with you!
