Is it Time to Sealcoat Your Parking Lot?
Sealcoating is needed in cold climates, but it is very useful in the warmer climates, like those present in Florida.
Because asphalt is a petroleum product, other petroleum products, like gasoline and oil, will react with its surface. Sealcoat your parking lot so that it acts as a barrier against those materials as they leak out of vehicles. When properly applied, sealcoat can save a facility owner substantially over the service life of asphalt pavement.
Asphalt has been used extensively in Florida for parking lot surfaces due to its flexibility, adhesive and waterproofing properties. But, like any other material that is exposed to the sun, water and regular foot and vehicle traffic, asphalt will need to be sealcoated to protect it from degradation. The first signs of deterioration are the change in color, cracks and potholes.
What Color is Your Parking Lot?
When new, asphalt pavement is a rich black color. As it degrades, it will fade to gray.
Got Cracks and Potholes?
Both cracks and potholes can also develop over time in a parking lot. Asphalt failure often begins with the oxidation of an untreated pavement surface, which causes the asphalt to become brittle and dry. As the top layer of fine particles erodes, the larger aggregate is exposed which leads to small cracks on the pavements surface. A pothole is a type of failure in an asphalt pavement caused by the presence of water in the underlying soil structure. Potholes grow as the asphalt structure is eroded due to traffic passing over the affected area. These types of damages need to be repaired on a regular basis as part of a preventative maintenance plan.
How Sealcoat is Applied
Prior to the application of sealcoat, the parking lot surface must be completely cleaned using sweeping machines; blowers and manually sweeping the surfaces with a broom to assure all particles are removed. If the surface isn’t clean, the sealcoat may not adhere to the pavement surface.
Asphalt pavement sealcoating is applied with either pressurized spray equipment, self-propelled squeegee machines, or by hand with a squeegee. As the sealer materials are continually agitated to maintain consistency, the sealer is applied. Once application is complete, the sealcoat will need 24 to 48 hours to cure before the parking area can be open to vehicular traffic.
About ABC Paving and Sealcoating
With more than 20 years of experience, ABC Paving and Sealcoating is Florida’s leading paving contractor. ABC Paving and Sealcoating provides commercial organizations with the highest level of customer service, professional workmanship and services including: asphalt paving, asphalt repairs and prevention, pothole repairs, sealcoating, line striping and pavement marking, thermoplastic, crack filing, signs and safety devices, concrete sidewalks, concrete curbs, site preparation and signs and safety devices. We use our experience and the latest equipment available to get the job done right the first time in a timely, cost effective manner. For more information about ABC Paving and Sealcoating, visit our website at https://pavingandsealcoating.com or call866-934-7623 for a free estimate.
