Sealcoating is a cost-effective way to protect your asphalt driveway or parking lot from wear and tear. It forms a barrier against the sun’s oxidizing UV rays, water, and oil. It can also give your faded blacktop a fresh, new look. A good seal coat will also fill small cracks and make your pavement more flexible under pressure. Visit Website to learn more.
Sealcoating helps to protect and preserve asphalt surfaces, significantly extending their lifespan. It also provides an attractive, unblemished pavement surface that customers, tenants, and visitors appreciate.
In addition, it can help to reduce maintenance costs and prevent the need for more costly repairs or resurfacing.
The process is fairly simple. First, the pavement is cleaned thoroughly. This includes removing all of the loose debris, such as leaves and pebbles, as well as sweeping and washing away any dirt and other substances that might interfere with a successful seal coat application. If there are any raised markers on the pavement, such as paint used to delineate parking spaces or lane lines, they must be ground down to a level that is consistent with the rest of the asphalt surface.
Once the asphalt is clean, workers will choose a few days for the sealcoating project that are free of rain or snow. The temperature needs to be moderate and the humidity low in order for the sealer to adhere properly.
If sprinklers are used in the area, they must be turned off a full day before the sealcoating project begins. This will ensure that the water isn’t running on or over the newly applied asphalt surface and potentially ruining the sealcoat. It’s also important to communicate with all businesses that use the parking lot, letting them know that the surface will be inaccessible during the sealcoating process. They may need to make arrangements for alternate loading and unloading locations or to schedule deliveries at a different time.
Before the actual sealcoating, workers will mix in a series of additives and fillers to create a mixture that is both smooth and viscous. This allows the sealcoat to be spread evenly over the asphalt, as opposed to splattering on like a paint job. The mix is essentially made from coal byproducts or similar acrylics that are combined with fine bits of silica, fillers and additives to create the desired consistency.
The mix will then be poured onto the pavement. The workers will typically work in small sections, starting at the furthest edge of the pavement and working their way towards the center. The resulting sealcoat will cover the entire pavement surface, including cracks and other minor imperfections.
Spraying
The spraying process for sealcoating is a quick one, but there are several things to keep in mind. For starters, workers should wear personal protective equipment (PPE). This includes safety glasses and gloves to prevent contact with harmful materials, as well as face masks to protect against fumes. Workers should also make sure the sealcoating machine is clogged free and working correctly before spraying.
The type of tar used in the sealcoating process is another important factor. Coal tar, for example, is an extremely toxic material that can cause cancer and other health issues if employees are exposed to it. It is also known to cause environmental problems. Thankfully, there are safer alternatives, such as acrylic or rubber asphalt sealants.
In addition to preventing cracking, sealcoating also protects the surface from oil and chemical spills that soften and degrade asphalt. It acts as a barrier that keeps these substances from penetrating the asphalt, which in turn saves money on costly repairs and replacement.
When choosing a seal coating contractor, it is important to consider their reputation and experience. Too many inexperienced or unscrupulous contractors “over sell” seal coating to property owners / managers. They may use a high pressure sales pitch, but most of the time, they will end up applying seal coat that will provide little value except cosmetic enhancement, and that is short-lived.
Spray application is the preferred method for applying a seal coat, but it can be done manually as well with squeegees or brushes. Using an automatic spray applicator is much faster and will typically yield a better finish. However, this option can be more expensive, so it is not always practical for large commercial projects.
Once the area has been sprayed, it must be allowed to dry for a few hours before workers can continue with the project. During this time, it is crucial to keep the area closed off to traffic and pedestrians to avoid any accidents.
Squeegeeing
Sealcoating keeps damaging water from penetrating paved surfaces and can extend the life of your pavement for up to seven years. It also repairs cracks and improves traction. However, this process is not cheap and requires a large amount of equipment to complete. It is important to maintain a proper schedule and use the right materials so that you get the best results from your investment.
The first step is to make sure that the surface you are seal coating is completely clean. This can be done by sweeping or blowing the area and removing any trash, oil spots, etc. Then you will need to allow the pavement to dry for several hours, or a full day depending on the weather conditions. It is important that the temperature and humidity levels are above 50 degrees, and that there is no rain in the forecast for 24 hours after application.
Once the pavement is dry, workers will squeegee the first coat of sealant over the blacktop. It is a good idea to have the contractor walk through the job afterward and check for any areas that need additional coats or patching. The squeegeeing can be done manually or with power squeegee machines that are usually driven by electricity. These are a lot faster than manual squeegees, and can apply two coats in less than five minutes.
After squeegeing the first coat of sealant, the contractors will let it dry for about 24 to 48 hours. This is necessary so that the asphalt can bond with the new layer of sealant. If you allow the new layer to cure before using your parking lot, it will provide a long-lasting and attractive appearance.
While the squeegeeing process can be dangerous, the most important safety precaution is to wear a face mask. The sealant contains carcinogenic chemicals, and if the chemicals come into contact with your skin or lungs, they can cause serious health problems. Workers should also be aware of the potential environmental hazards associated with coal tar sealants, and avoid any contact with spills or runoff.
Curing
The curing process is an important step in the sealcoating process. A properly cured seal coat allows for proper bonding with the asphalt pavement and provides maximum protection. Insufficient curing time can result in premature wear and shorten the lifespan of the seal coat. By understanding the curing process, you can optimize your drying times and ensure that your pavement is protected for years to come.
The sealcoat dries through the release of water from the wet film into the surrounding ambient air. The surrounding air acts as a blotting paper and soaks up the released water, its capacity dependent upon the relative humidity in the air. This evaporation of water is what initiates the full cure of the sealcoat.
To obtain optimum performance, the sealer must be applied in the right temperature range and allowed to cure in the proper conditions. The ideal application and curing temperatures are between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature must be this precise to allow for the chemical fusion of the asphalt binder and the fillers/aggregates in the sealcoat mix.
It is also important to make sure that the sealer has been mixed correctly. The correct dilution, sand loading, and additive content are crucial to the material’s curing ability. If any of these factors are out of whack, the sealer will be unable to dry.
Another factor that influences the drying and curing process is wind velocity. A light breeze can help speed up the process as it assists in the evaporation of water from the sealer’s surface. Humidity is a major influencing factor in the drying and curing times of the sealcoat as well. High levels of humidity slow down the evaporation of moisture, thus extending the drying period.
The final step in the process of ensuring that the seal coating is fully cured is a visual inspection and a tactile test. A fully cured seal coating will have an even matte color and no shiny spots. To perform the tactile test, place your thumb on the sealcoat and twist it 90 degrees. If the thumb does not pick up on the sealcoat, it is sufficiently cured and can be opened to traffic.
