Constructing an asphalt pavement can be a wise decision for any municipality, commercial property owner, subdivision, or county. Asphalt is fast and economical to install, and your new pavement can last for many years if you give it the proper care. An integral part of caring for asphalt pavement is sealcoating the pavement periodically.
The Total Guide to Asphalt Sealcoating in Austin
What Is Sealcoating?
A seal coat is a mixture of a sealant, sand, and water, and it may include additives to enhance specific properties of the sealant. When performing asphalt sealcoating, the contractor’s crew members will apply the mixture in thin coats, allowing each coat to dry before applying the next coat. Some asphalt paving companies refer to the procedure as asphalt sealing.
Why Is Sealcoating Important?
Asphalt sealcoating provides a number of benefits that can help your pavement last longer, require fewer repairs, and look better. The sun emits the UV rays can steal the moisture from asphalt paving, making the pavement brittle, faded, and more likely to crack. Sealcoats are extremely effective at blocking UV rays. A seal coat will also help prevent the damage that automotive fluids can inflict on asphalt pavements; vehicle fluids destroy the binder that holds the pavement together, leaving soft, crumbly spots that can quickly turn into potholes. Furthermore, a seal coat improves traction, covers minor surface imperfections, makes the pavement easier to clean, and brings back the dark color that the pavement had when it was new.
How Often Do I Need to Sealcoat My Pavement?
The correct interval depends on factors that are specific to your pavement. However, Austin paving contractors typically recommend an initial application within the pavement’s first year. Fresh applications should follow every two to four years. The primary factor for determining the interval is the traffic that your pavement receives. For example, a parking lot with thousands of cars coming and going every day will need sealing more frequently than one that only provides parking for 20 or 30 employees.
How Do Austin Asphalt Sealcoating Contractors Approach the Job?
The first thing that your contractor will want to do is evaluate your pavement to determine whether potholes, cracks, alligatored asphalt, and other damage exists. Your contractor will need to repair the damage before applying the sealant. Next, your Austin asphalt sealcoating contractor will thoroughly clean the pavement to remove any grime, gravel, sand, or other debris. If necessary, the contractor’s crew may prime certain areas to ensure a proper bond between the sealant and the pavement. It will be necessary to use hand tools to apply the sealant along the edges or around structures on some projects. Typically, the large, open expanses will require the use of a sprayer to obtain a thin, even coat.
Can Austin Asphalt Sealcoating Contractors Sealcoat All Year?
Sealants require specific weather conditions if they are to cure properly. Most Austin paving and maintenance contractors will not apply sealants if the temperature is less than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. However, since humidity and wind speed also influence the curing process, the temperature may need to be higher on a still, humid day. Although there can certainly be an occasional day or two in Austin that will permit asphalt pavement sealing in the winter, you should not assume that it will be possible. Instead, you should schedule the task for some time between late spring and the middle of autumn.
Trust Alpha for Your Asphalt Paving, Maintenance, and Repairs
Alpha Paving is a well-respected asphalt paving company providing a complete range of pavement-related services, including asphalt paving, parking lot striping, asphalt sealcoating, parking lot signs, asphalt resurfacing, speed bump installation, asphalt patching and asphalt crack repairs, thermoplastic pavement markings, street maintenance, concrete installation, asphalt milling, concrete repairs, and road construction. Our clients include airports, property management firms, municipalities, apartment complexes, health care facilities, retail establishments, educational institutions, HOAs, restaurants, and manufacturing facilities. We have an outstanding reputation for exceptional craftsmanship and exemplary customer service. We would be happy to provide you with a free quote; simply complete the online request form, call 512-677-9001, or email Info@AlphaPaving.com.