A high-quality sealant can help asphalt pavements last longer and look better. Sealants protect against automotive fluids, UV radiation, and other natural or artificial elements that can damage and prematurely age asphalt. However, it would be best if you reapplied sealants periodically to achieve the proper protection for your pavement. Because sealants are extremely sensitive to the weather, summer is the best time for asphalt sealcoating. This is primarily due to the temperatures, hours of sunlight, potential for rain, and relative humidity levels during the summer months.
Why Summer Is the Best Time for Asphalt Sealcoating
Why Are Summer Temperatures Better for Asphalt Sealcoating?
Sealant manufacturers do not guarantee their products if the temperature at the time of application is below a certain point. This varies a little by manufacturer, but it is always between 50 and 55 degrees. Furthermore, this minimum applies to both the air and ground temperature and applies to the minimum allowable temperature for the first 24 hours following the application. In Central Texas, summer temperatures virtually never dip below the acceptable point for sealcoating. In addition, sealants will dry faster at hotter temperatures than at cooler ones; sealants dry through evaporation, and evaporation rates heavily depend on the temperature.
Why Are the Hours of Sunlight Important for Asphalt Sealcoating?
There are two reasons why the longer days of summer matter for sealant applications. The first is that sealants rely on exposure to direct sunlight for curing. Ironically, the same UV rays that can turn unprotected asphalt pavement brittle and dry are the same rays that ensure the rapid, proper curing of the sealants that will end up blocking them. The second reason is that the sunlight allows longer workdays. This can be especially critical if you have a large parking lot that needs two coats of sealant and fresh striping. Depending on the size of your lot, it might be possible for a seal coating contractor to finish all tasks in one or two days during the summer. Still, the timeline could easily double or triple during months when the sun rises later and sets earlier.
How Does Precipitation Affect Sealcoating?
If rain falls on uncured sealcoating, the best you can hope for is a blotchy, unattractive, mottled appearance. If the sealant is in the early stages of curing, a storm could easily wash away all of the sealant, leaving your pavement unprotected. Therefore, experienced asphalt maintenance contractors monitor the weather forecasts closely to ensure that they do not begin a sealcoating project when rain is imminent. Although rain can fall during any month in Central Texas, there tend to be fewer days of precipitation during July and August than during the spring and autumn months. This makes it easier for your contractor to schedule and complete the job during your preferred time frame.
How Does Humidity Affect Asphalt Sealants?
As the relative humidity levels rise, the rate of evaporation tends to slow. Hot weather can do a great deal to offset the effects of humidity on evaporation. However, in the Austin area, the humidity levels actually tend to be lower in August than in any other month, and July typically ranks among the three least-humid months of the year. The higher dew points in summer also reduce the likelihood of condensation forming on fresh sealant overnight.
For Superior Results, Trust Alpha Paving
We are an award-winning Austin paving company that offers a full range of asphalt and concrete construction, repair, and maintenance services. In addition to seal coating, we offer asphalt paving, parking lot striping, asphalt overlays, street maintenance, thermoplastic pavement markings, concrete installation, asphalt crack repair, speed bump installation, asphalt milling, parking lot signage and car stops, concrete repair, road construction, and asphalt patching. Our clients include numerous retailers, subdivisions and HOAs, apartment complexes, religious institutions, airports, health care facilities, property management companies, educational facilities, office parks, shopping centers and malls, hotels, condos, municipalities, restaurants, and recreational venues. We have an exemplary reputation for delivering exceptional quality and outstanding customer service at reasonable prices. For a free quote, call our main office in Round Rock at 512-677-9001, or fill out the online request form.