Seal Coating Saves You Money!

An asphalt driveway or parking lot is comprised of rock, sand, and asphalt emulsion; think of it as a binding glue, that holds the rock and sand together. A properly constructed driveway has a lifespan of 15-25 years if it is appropriately maintained.

As with paint aging on a house, many environmental factors cause asphalt to break down. Sun, wind, salt, snow plow blades, heat, and cold all work in concert to deteriorate asphalt. The reasoning behind seal coating your driveway is to prevent essential oils in the asphalt from evaporating causing the asphalt to become dry and brittle (oxidization.) When asphalt becomes dry and brittle, it results in cracks. Cracking leads to water penetrating the surface, which in turn causes expansion and contraction, thus eroding the sub base of your surface which allows the surface to crack. Cracks need to be addressed before they compromise an entire area of pavement leading to a costly repair.

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To ensure that your asphalt pavement will have the maximum life span, routine maintenance needs to begin the year after your original installation. It's then necessary to have the routine seal coating maintenance continued every 2-3 seasons. You will enjoy numerous benefits having this recommended routine maintenance done:

• Seal coating protects your asphalt from sun oxidation, standing water and motor oil
• Seal coating prevents the asphalt from becoming dry and brittle
• The cost of seal coating maintenance on a regular basis is much less expensive than the thousands of dollars that would need to be invested to have your asphalt paving re-done

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Seal Coat acts as a flexible barrier coating, in turn, increasing the life span of your investment. Asphalt has the same chemical makeup as oil and gasoline, therefore, asphalt is attracted to these oils and will bond with them, causing the asphalt to crack and break down. Therefore, a coal tar sealant must be applied every 2-3 years to prevent damage from oil. Oil spots on driveways or parking lots need to be treated with Tarlock prior to seal coating or the oil will bleed through the seal coat and deterioration from oil will continue to happen. Outstanding surface preparation is required in order to seal properly. Overnight temperatures should not be below 55 degrees when applying seal coat. If temperatures are too low at night the seal coat will quickly develop a grayish film and the product will not adhere properly. If daytime temperatures are excessive, a light spray of water should be applied to the area so the product does not dry too quickly.

One of Sommerset Paving's expert and professional team members uses a machine to apply this sealer and watches closely that it is done properly. Machine application leads to a more even application, even wear, allows a greater amount of sealer to be applied, and guarantees the product is properly agitated.