Sealcoating is a preventative maintenance treatment. It can extend the life of your asphalt pavement for decades for a minimal cost.
Asphalt pavement is a mixture of rock and stone held together with a binder. Over time, this binder degrades and the resulting surface becomes brittle and damaged. Visit https://www.rochesternysealcoating.com/ to learn more.
Sealcoating can slow this process by applying a coal tar based pavement sealer to the surface. It can only be done properly when the weather is clear and dry.
An unsealed driveway or parking lot is a direct path to the elements and can cause a great deal of damage. This damage can be very costly to repair and may even require a full replacement of the asphalt surface. Sealcoating is an inexpensive way to protect your investment and extend the life of your asphalt for many years.
A sealed driveway can look beautiful and make your property stand out. It will also be easier to clean and get rid of snow compared to an untreated driveway. Before you seal your driveway, you should do a thorough inspection and make sure all cracks are filled. It’s also important to remove any weeds and grass growing on the surface. Then, use a specialized cleaner or degreaser to clean the area and get rid of any stains.
After the surface is cleaned, it’s time to apply the sealcoat. This is done with a brush, roller or sprayer. A sprayer is ideal for larger areas and will save you a lot of time. You can also use a sealing additive which cuts down the drying and curing times in half and improves sand dispersion to prevent tracking. Once the sealant is applied, you should wait for it to dry before using the driveway again.
The best time to sealcoat a driveway is spring or fall. This is because the temperatures are usually warmer and there will be a period of time without rain. This allows the sealant to dry and bond properly.
Keeping your pavement protected with sealcoating will greatly reduce the need to repair or replace your driveway or parking lot. A recent study shows that a driveway or parking lot that is seal coated every 3 years will need to be repaved only half as often as an untreated driveway. In addition, it is much cheaper to maintain your pavement with regular sealcoating than to repave it. So don’t hesitate, contact Jet-Black for a free quote and see how you can save money on your next asphalt maintenance project. We offer professional sealcoating, crack filling and patchwork services that will protect your investment for decades to come.
Parking Lots
Sealcoating parking lots protects asphalt pavement from the elements, extending its lifespan and preventing costly repairs. It also gives the asphalt a dark black finish, which is more appealing to visitors and improves visibility for drivers in your lot.
A well-maintained parking lot is a reflection of your business and helps attract customers, so it’s worth investing in the preventative maintenance treatment. However, the cost of resealing depends on several factors, including surface condition and whether crack filling or repair is needed, the number of coats required, and local labor costs.
The first step in the process is a thorough surface assessment to check for surface damage, like potholes, oil stains and other debris that may impact the coating’s performance. This assessment will also identify any areas that require crack filling or repair, and this additional work can add significantly to the overall project costs.
Once the parking lot has been prepared, the paving contractor will apply two coats of coal tar based asphalt sealer. Each coat requires a specific application technique to achieve the best results, which can increase the labor and material costs. In addition, a lot that is resealed will need to be blocked off for a few hours for safe and efficient work.
Another factor to consider is the amount of parking space you have and how much area the sealcoat will cover. The total square footage of the parking lot will determine how many gallons of asphalt sealer will be required. For example, a standard parking lot with 20 spaces will require around 100 gallons of sealer. To help ensure accurate measurements, your paving specialist should use a measuring tool to provide you with a precise measurement of each space.
In addition, some projects require services like parking lot striping and markings to comply with ADA and local regulations. This can increase the complexity and cost of the work, as it needs to be done accurately and efficiently to ensure compliance. Other options like traction treatments and aesthetic enhancements will also add to the overall project cost.
Finally, local labor costs can vary greatly from one region to the next. This is why it’s important to choose a professional with experience working in your area and is familiar with the unique labor market conditions that affect pricing.
Walkways
Sealcoating sidewalks and walkways helps to protect the concrete from weathering. The sealant fills in small cracks and pores, preventing water from seeping into them and expanding during the freeze/ thaw cycle, which can weaken the concrete. It also makes the surface more resistant to staining and graffiti. When choosing a sealant for walkways and sidewalks, make sure that it is designed to stand up to the elements. DRYLOK offers three options that provide excellent protection and come in a range of finishes to suit your specific needs.
The first step is to clean the area that you will be sealcoating. This is important as the sealant won’t adhere to dirt or mud. Professional pavement contractors will use robust cleaning equipment such as blowers and rotary brooms to ensure that all areas are clean before sealing. They will also use a specialized asphalt crack filler machine to repair any cracks in the asphalt before applying the sealcoat.
Once the paved surface is clean, it must be allowed to dry completely before proceeding with the sealcoating. It is a good idea to cover any objects that you don’t want the black sealer to get on with cardboard or tape. This includes sidewalks, curbs, lampposts and fire hydrants. It is also a good idea to block off the area with traffic cones and sawhorses, and to put down some caution tape to keep pedestrians out of the way as the sealant dries.
After the sealant has dried, it will give the paved area a smooth, dark finish that enhances curb appeal and makes your property look well maintained. This is particularly beneficial if you have employees or customers who frequent your business. The smooth, uncracked surface is also much easier to clean and will help to keep the areas around your business clean from debris such as gravel, leaves and snow.
In addition, sealcoating can help to extend the life of the paved area by protecting it from damage caused by oil and fuel spills and chemical penetration that can degrade the surface over time. It can also save money in the long run by reducing the need for expensive repairs and replacement.
Buildings
Whether you own an office building, apartment complex, restaurant, retail business or other commercial establishment, you need to protect your property’s paved surfaces. Regular sealcoating will prevent cracks from becoming larger, saving you money in repair costs down the road. It will also increase your curb appeal and make the building look well-maintained.
The key to a successful sealcoating job is proper surface preparation. Before applying a sealer, any cracks 1/4’’ or larger should be cleaned out and filled with hot-applied crack filler. The surface should be completely free of oil, grease, and dirt to allow for a clean and even application of the sealcoat. The area to be sealcoated must be closed off to vehicular and pedestrian traffic with cones or barricades. Sprinklers should be turned off, as water in the paving materials will cause the new coat to not cure properly.
A professional will use a sprayer to apply the sealcoat in a uniform and even coat over the entire surface, taking care not to miss any areas. Depending on the type of sealcoat used, it can take up to 24 hours for it to fully dry and cure. During this time, the surface will be slippery, so caution should be taken to avoid falling and getting hurt.
Before working on the paved surface, workers should put on rubber gloves and masks to prevent skin and lung irritation. The chemicals in many sealcoating materials are carcinogenic and can cause serious health problems if ingested or inhaled. One instance probably won’t do much harm, but repeated exposure can lead to long-term damage and health issues.
In addition to the safety concerns, it’s important for any worker to understand how to operate and maintain the equipment they will be using for a sealcoating project. This includes the sprayer, brushes, mixers and other tools. If workers are unfamiliar with how to handle these items, they can run the risk of causing permanent damage to the pavement and wasting money on poor quality materials.
While it is possible to do a sealcoating project on your own, it is not recommended. Not only is it extremely time-consuming, but the task is not as simple as it may seem. If you are not experienced, the process can be messy and may result in uneven and splotchy work. Plus, you will likely end up spending more on the materials due to trial and error.
