Your asphalt pavement consists of stone and gravel bound together by a binder called asphalt cement. Maintaining the integrity of this binder means preserving the life of your asphalt surfaces. Rain, snow, and sunlight can degrade the binder, causing it to become brittle and damaging your pavement.
Sealcoating provides a protective barrier that will keep your pavement safe from harmful elements. Unprotected asphalt means potholes, cracks, pools of water, and a generally misshapen surface. Not a great look for your home exterior!
Sealcoat helps preserve asphalt service life, so you need to do it regularly. Read on for a complete guide to sealcoating your asphalt pavement.
Signs Of Asphalt Damage
These simple signs can help you determine if your asphalt surface needs sealcoating:
1) Cracks – Crack formations are the earliest signs of asphalt damage. Once you spot them on your pavement, you need to call in professionals for sealcoating. Water can seep through these cracks and cause extensive damage to your pavement, so you need to repair them as soon as possible.
2) Potholes – If you leave cracks for too long, you have potholes to look forward to. Over time, moisture, dirt, and other pollutants from vehicles and passersby penetrate the asphalt and create deep grooves on a previously flat surface.
3) Grass – Grass breaking through asphalt is a great metaphor for resilience, but it is bad news for the integrity of your pavement. If you can already see grass, that means its roots have already built a widespread network under the surface. Don’t be surprised if your contractors tell you that you’ll need to repave the entire area.
4) Standing Water – Water will always stay in place if it’s not drained away. If you have pools of water on your pavement, the asphalt will begin to crack and erode.
5) Faded Appearance – Newly poured asphalt has a beautiful, even, dark gray colour. Sun exposure can cause fading and discolouration, and precipitation can make it look older than it really is. Sealcoating will help keep your pavement look fresh and new for years to come.
Asphalt Pavement Sealcoating Schedule
Sealcoating is a simple and affordable way to prolong the life of your asphalt pavement or driveway. As a general rule, you should sealcoat your asphalt surface every one to three years. However, if you start to see the individual stones and rocks on the asphalt, or if there are cracks forming on the surface, it’s time for another sealing.
As for timing, your asphalt surface should be older than six months. Before setting a sealcoating appointment, keep an eye on the weather. The optimal temperature for the sealer to adhere to asphalt is fifty degrees or higher. Once the sealcoat is applied, you can’t step on it or touch it in any way for at least 12 hours. And no amount of rain or moisture can come down on it for at least 48 hours.
Conclusion
The ravages of Mother Nature and the day-to-day walking and driving atop your pavement or driveway can potentially cause a lot of damage to the asphalt surface. This is why asphalt sealcoating is essential. Annual sealcoating will help make sure that your asphalt looks brand new for many years to come!
Are you looking for asphalt contractors near you? W&W Construction is a leading name for residential and commercial paving, repairing, maintaining, and sandblasting in Edmonton and surrounding areas. No matter what kind of asphalt services you need, we can provide them for all types of properties. Request a quote today!
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