Benefits of Sealcoating Your Asphalt
Sealcoating your asphalt yields several benefits for your commercial property. The benefits of commercial sealcoating include:
Extends Pavement Life
Commercial sealcoating is an essential component of asphalt maintenance. Prioritizing this part of the maintenance process can extend the pavement’s life, up to five years.
Protects Against UV Rays
Exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays increases the rate of asphalt deterioration. Over time, the asphalt becomes brittle, opens more possibilities for cracking, and can lead to other troublesome side-effects of deterioration. Pavement sealcoating adds a layer of protection, reinforcing its protection against UV rays.
Protects Against Water and the Freeze-thaw Cycle
Water intrusion and the ground movement caused by the freeze-thaw cycle create the potential for numerous issues. These issues range from hairline cracks, potholes, and a complete weakening of its entire structure. Sealcoating is one of the most valuable ways to protect your surface from water infiltration, the freeze-thaw cycle, and other issues.
Protection Against Oils and Auto Fluids
Since asphalt is petroleum-based, other petroleum-based liquids join together and soften the asphalt in the process. Considering commercial properties undergo large amounts of traffic, proper protection needs to be put in place to prevent oils and auto fluids from creating this issue. Commercial sealcoating provides sufficient protection against oils and auto fluids to limit softening issues for the asphalt.
Increases Curb Appeal
Commercial sealcoating is not only for the benefit of maintenance, the service can also improve the curb appeal of your property. Asphalt without sealcoating can often be unsightly, while with sealcoating services, a surface that’s fresh, smooth, and clean is created—improving the visual appeal of the property.
How Often Should Parking Lot Sealcoating Be Performed?
The recommended frequency for asphalt sealcoating maintenance varies depending on a few key factors.
- The age and condition of the pavement
- How often the pavement is used
- The local climate and weather conditions
The Commercial Sealcoating Process
Here’s a breakdown of our three-step commercial sealcoating process.
Clean
The beginning of the sealcoating process entails a thorough cleaning of the existing asphalt with power blowers. Heavy-duty brooms are then used to remove all remaining dust and debris.
Prepare
To prepare the sealant, sand is added to prevent additional wear and slickness for the coating. The addition of sand to the sealant is based on the manufacturer’s recommendation.
Apply the Sealcoat
At this point, the first coat of sealant is applied. Once the first coat has been cured, the second coat can be applied.
Striping & Marking
After the sealcoat is dried and set, the Pave America team can re-stripe and re-mark the surface. New striping and marking adheres to the customer’s needs and is in compliance with ADA regulations.
Reactive vs. Proactive Maintenance
Reactive Maintenance
While reactive maintenance may save you money in the short term, it will end up costing you more in the long end.
Here are a few reasons why reactive maintenance is inferior to proactive maintenance.
- A crisis-based approach
- A neglect of work responsibilities
- Causes unplanned downtime
- Produces service delays
Preventative Maintenance
Preventative maintenance, on the other hand, is a strategy that saves you time and money on frequent repairs and premature replacements. Rather than trying to patch a problem that has already occurred, our team will prevent the problem from occurring at all.
These characteristics and benefits of preventative maintenance is why we recommend it to all our customers.
- A preparation-based approach
- An organized execution of work responsibilities
- Maximizes the pavement’s lifespan
- Provides a detailed report of facility management metrics
How Long Does Sealcoating Last?
For commercial applications, sealcoating with proper maintenance can last up to five years. However, the lifespan of sealcoating depends on traffic volume, climate, and weather conditions.
When Should You Sealcoat Your Pavement?
A new layer of sealcoating should be applied every three to five years depending on the condition of the pavement. If asphalt has just been previously installed, you’ll need to wait at least 90 days to a year to make sure the layer of sealcoating doesn’t damage the asphalt.
Other considerations to keep in mind would be undergoing sealcoating services when the temperature is between 50–90 °F. Under these conditions, the sealcoating can properly adhere to the existing asphalt.
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Commercial properties require specialized solutions to maintain functionality, a consistent flow of traffic, and keep conditions safe. With commercial sealcoating from the team at Pave America, you can rest assured your commercial operation is set up for success.
