Due to its economical cost, pleasing appearance, and durability, asphalt remains the leading choice for all types of pavements. However, without essential maintenance, your asphalt pavement can become unsightly, require expensive repairs, and have a shorter life. The most indispensable maintenance procedure for an Austin sealcoating contractor is the professional application of a high-quality asphalt emulsion sealer.
Austin Sealcoating | What Are the Best Conditions For Application?
What Is Sealcoating?
Sealcoat is a mixture of water, asphalt sealant, and sand; the mix may also include additives to enhance the sealant’s properties. However, you should not confuse asphalt sealing with crack sealing because they are two entirely different things. Crack sealing is a method of repairing cracks in the pavement. Asphalt sealing or sealcoating is the application of liquid material to the surface of the pavement. Sealcoat bonds asphalt pavements to create a rigid barrier between the pavement and the forces that can damage it, including sunlight and automotive fluids. Sealcoating also provides cosmetic benefits, giving the pavement a smoother appearance and reviving the color of faded asphalt. Periodic sealcoating can often double an asphalt pavement’s useful life and reduce the need for expensive repairs. Asphalt paving companies in Texas recommend sealcoating a new pavement no later than 12 months after its completion and about every two years thereafter. However, as experienced Austin sealcoating contractors know, the emulsions are persnickety products that demand a strict set of conditions if the application is to be successful.
What Conditions Are Ideal for Sealcoating Austin TX Pavements?
Ideal conditions for sealcoating include ground and ambient temperatures of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, a relative humidity level of less than 50%, a sunny day without a cloud in the sky, and a light, consistent breeze. Asphalt paving companies in Texas rarely have ideal conditions for sealcoating. Instead, they must find days with conditions that within acceptable ranges. Most types of asphalt emulsion sealer require temperatures of at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit at the time of application and for the next 12 to 24 hours, and no rain must fall during this time. Austin sealcoating contractors can do nothing to resolve the problem of rain. They can still do a few things around marginal temperatures if the other conditions are acceptable. The water in sealants must evaporate for proper curing to occur. Weather is a critical factor in the rate of evaporation, but humidity, sunlight, and wind speed also affect evaporation. Therefore, when temperatures are borderline, sealcoating contractors must carefully evaluate all other conditions to decide whether to apply a sealant.
What Else Affects the Decision to Perform Asphalt Sealing?
As temperatures begin their seasonal decline, it can become increasingly challenging to find consecutive days when all conditions will be acceptable. Therefore, contractors must evaluate the scope of the job to devise an appropriate plan. When a contractor considers your pavement, he will look for densely shaded areas to extend the curing time. He will determine the extent of pavement repairs he must make before he can apply the sealant. If you have a large parking lot, he will evaluate the feasibility of performing the work in stages to minimize the disruption to your business; part of this evaluation will be determining your traffic flow patterns and the number of entrances to your lot. After considering all factors, your contractor can then recommend the best course of action.
Does Alpha Paving Perform Sealcoating?
Alpha Paving Industries is an asphalt paving and sealcoating contractor serving Austin and the Central Texas community. Our services include crack filling, pothole repair, asphalt paving, parking lot striping, asphalt resurfacing, concrete repair and installation, thermoplastic markings, road construction and maintenance, asphalt milling, and traffic sign installation. From our main office in Round Rock, we serve customers in many Central Texas counties. Our clients include airports, hospitals, other healthcare facilities, restaurants, apartment complexes, private and public educational institutions, homeowner associations, industrial facilities, subdivisions, municipalities and counties, hotels, churches and religious institutions, retail stores, office parks, and shopping malls. We deliver exceptional work and exemplary customer service professionally and at competitive prices. You can request a free, no-obligation quote by completing our request form online or calling 512-677-9001.