Asphalt Sealcoating Company
Driveway sealcoating and crack sealing
Sealcoating
>How soon after my lot is paved should I start a pavement maintenance program?
The common mistake most people make is calling us after their pavement has cracked and in need of patching. To get the maximum life out of your pavement, a program should start within the first year.
>How many coats of sealer should be applied?
Low Traffic such as a typical home driveway, 1 coat is sufficient. Moderate Traffic on a parking lot, 1-2 coats with a third coat on the entrance and exits. Heavy Traffic 2 coats with a third.
>Does scuffing always occur?
Scuffing is normal, even with additives, and usually occurs in the first month. Scuffing is usually worse on a hot day particularly when the temperatures go above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The best way to minimize scuffing is to try and not turn your car sharply when the lot is first opened up.
>My unsealed driveway is getting tire/scuff marks. Will seal coating prevent this from happening?
No, the seal coating will not help.
>What wears sealer?
Traffic is a major cause of wear. Sanding and blowing are also a factor. The sand will act like an abrasive, grinding and wearing the sealer as it turns on it.
>Will the sealer fill depressions/holes and fill the cracks?
No, sealer will not fill depressions or holes. If sealer is put on too thick it tends to flake off. Hot asphalt will be needed in these areas. Sealer does not work in the cracks. When it is dry it is not flexible enough to move when the cracks open and close. It would just crumble in the cracks.
>How often should I seal my asphalt?
The typical asphalt parking lot is sealed every 2 to 3 years. The amount of traffic and the wearing is the deciding factor. Low traffic areas such as driveways need to be sealed less frequently than pavements with moderate or heavy traffic. Seal coating too frequently or over sealing is not good for your asphalt.
>Why should I have sand in my sealer?
Sand in the sealer gives a uniform texture that helps with traction and skid resistance. Sealer applied without sand in it tends to be more slippery. Sealers with sand in them tend to last longer and are safer to walk and drive on.
Crackfilling
>Why should I crack fill my lot?
Water penetrating into the sub base of a parking lot is a major cause of pavement failure. By sealing the cracks you are preventing water penetration into the sub base by way of the crack
>What is the difference between hot pour and cold pour filler?
Hot pour crack fillers are heated and are applied as a hot liquid. When it cools down it becomes a pliable, rubber like consistency. It will be flexible enough to expand and contract with the crack as it opens and closes with the temperature changes. Cold applied crack filler is usually a water or asphalt based product. It is applied in a liquid form and dries into a solid. Cold pour crack fillers look great but tend to be less flexible. In areas of the country where the temperatures get cold this type of crack filler tends to fail.
Why does hot pour crack filler always seem soft ?
Hot pour crack filler is designed to always remain flexible so it will expand and contract as the crack it is in does. When you press it with your finger it's supposed to flex. When you park on it on a hot summer day your tire may actually leave an imprint.
>Why does hot pour crack filler sometimes pull up?
The crack filler is only as good as the asphalt it is bonding to. The asphalt may have been damaged by an oil spill or may just be too weak to hold the crack filler down on a hot summer day.
>Can an alligatored area be fixed with crack filler ?
To repair areas that are "alligatored" correctly, they should be cut out and removed, the base repaired and then repaved. This process is expensive. If the budget does not allow, we can crack fill an alligatored area getting the major cracks and helping to hold it together until you can properly repair the area.