Asphalt driveways, parking lots, and sidewalks are big investments! They are expensive and time-consuming to install, but with proper care and maintenance, they can last up to twelve years! Something you can do to prolong the life of your driveway is seal-coating your asphalt. Read on to find out more about the asphalt seal-coating process!

What is Seal-Coating?

Asphalt seal-coating acts as a barrier between your asphalt and the elements – water, ice, car fluids, the sun, salt and other chemicals, which might destroy the structural integrity of your driveway. The sealant is usually a coal tar emulsion, making it very resistant to water, gas, oil, salt, and UV radiation. Think of asphalt sealant like sunscreen for your driveway!

How Is It Applied?

Asphault seal-coating is best done by professionals, who will have the appropriate safety equipment and technique for handling the sealant.

First, the asphalt will be cleaned to remove all dirt and debris, using a combination of brooms, blowers, and pressure washers. The sealant will coat and remaining debris, and cause flaking, weak spots in the seal-coating. Once the pavement is clean, any remaining chemical spots – such as oil or anti-freeze – will be treated with a priming liquid to make sure that the seal-coating will stick.

Two coats of sealant are applied to the driveway or parking lot using a squeegee or sprayer, with some time allowed for it to dry between coats. It is very important to give the seal-coating enough time to dry and cure before using the asphalt. If used too soon, you could see unexpected early wear and tear or tire markings in the seal-coating. Try to give the asphalt at least 24 hours before seeing any traffic.

So, are you ready to call on the help of a professional paving company?

Call Tristate Paving. We’re a seasoned hardscaping company based in Maryland and have the experience and knowledge help you turn your backyard into the perfect retreat quickly and affordably. Our experts will work with you to find a design and layout for outdoor kitchen and dining area that you’re sure to love for years and years to come.

Our area numbers are:

West Chester: 610.563.9456

Oxford: 610.932.3566

Delaware: 302.757.4100

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Tags: asphalt, asphalt driveway, asphalt repair, asphalt sealant, driveway

This entry was posted on Friday, September 18th, 2015 at 6:20 pm and is filed under Asphalt Paving, Services. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.