What To Know Before Sealcoating Your New Asphalt Driveway
Are you looking to build a driveway that can last for many years without attracting the high initial price tag of a concrete driveway? If so, asphalt can be a suitable material for your driveway construction. However, you must take deliberate steps to maintain and maximize the life of your asphalt surface.
Sealcoating is one of the most essential components of any asphalt maintenance strategy. Before committing to installing an asphalt driveway, here are some important things to know about asphalt sealcoating.
What Is Sealcoating And Why Is It Necessary?
While a properly installed asphalt surface is tough and resilient, direct and constant exposure to inclement elements, like oxygen, rain, snow, ice, motor fluids and UV radiation from sunlight can cause it to degrade quickly. To prevent this from happening, asphalt sealcoating is necessary.
As the name implies, asphalt sealcoating describes the process of applying a thin liquid coating to an asphalt surface to protect it from damage.
Although sealcoating products can be applied just like regular paint, they're typically bituminous- or acrylic-based liquids mixed with water, sand, and special additives to provide reliable and durable protection to asphalt surfaces.
When Should You Sealcoat Your Asphalt?
Don't apply a seal coat to your freshly-laid asphalt because it requires time to fully cure. Applying a seal coat too soon traps chemicals that make the asphalt more likely to suffer damage.
Subsequent sealcoats may be applied when performing periodic asphalt maintenance tasks like crack filling and pothole repairs.
Are All Sealcoating Products The Same?
Not all asphalt seal coating products are created equal. When choosing a seal coating product for your driveway, it's important to think about your specific requirements. The various types of sealers available for your blacktop surface include the following:
- Asphalt emulsion sealers
- Coal tar sealers
- Fast dry sealers
- Petroleum-based sealers
- Acrylic sealers
Each asphalt sealer type has a unique set of properties that make it suitable for specific applications. For instance, coal tar sealers are a popular choice among people who want to protect their driveways from organic and inorganic materials.
Choosing the correct asphalt sealer is essential to ensure maximum protection of your driveway, extending its life.
Do you need professional help with your asphalt sealcoating job? Get in touch with an asphalt paving company near you today for your free, no-obligation quote. They're highly trained and fully equipped to get the job done safely and correctly.