Asphalt is a logical choice for paving parking lots, city thoroughfares, and rural roads. With proper care, asphalt pavements can have long, healthy lives without needing costly repairs. However, a lack of routine maintenance can negatively affect both the appearance and useful life of the pavement. Sealcoating is a dual-purpose treatment that offers both cosmetic and protective properties. However, there are some shortcuts that you want to make sure that your contractor does not take.
What Is Sealcoating?
Asphalt sealcoating is a mixture of concentrated sealant, silica sand, and water. Sometimes, sealcoating contractors also include an additive to enhance certain properties, regulate curing, or ensure proper suspension of the sand. Contractors typically use a sprayer to apply parking lot sealcoating efficiently. However, when they sealcoat parking lot pavements, contractors may also use a squeegee or broom around structures. When the sealcoat cures, it creates a barrier over the pavement to shield it from damaging forces. Sealcoating Long Island asphalt pavements can also make them appear smoother and darker.
What Are Some Sealcoating Shortcuts That a Contractor Should Never Take?
Since the primary purpose of a sealant is to protect the pavement, you should always choose an experienced, reputable contractor. If you do, it is unlikely that your contractor will take any of the following detrimental shortcuts.
1. The weather is a critical factor when sealcoating Long Island pavements.
Sealcoating contractors should never attempt to apply a sealant when conditions are unsuitable. For example, your contractor should never attempt to sealcoat your pavement if rain is imminent. Some sealcoating companies will attempt to complete jobs to avoid a return trip.
2. Contractors should apply parking lot sealcoating in two thin coats, allowing each coat to dry before proceeding. When they sealcoat parking lot pavements, inexperienced or dishonest contractors sometimes apply one thick coat instead.
3. The sealcoating companies that manufacture sealants provide specific recipes for mixing their products.
Contractors must measure each ingredient carefully to ensure that the mix will deliver the intended results. It may save time if they estimate the quantities, but this shortcut can ruin the mix.
4. The pavement must be clean if the sealant is to bond to it. To save time, some contractors skip this step.
The results will be unsatisfactory. The sealant may be blotchy, or it may leave many spots totally unprotected.
5. A sealcoating company should never apply a sealant without repairing all significant damage.
If there are open cracks or other pavement breaks, the sealant will not repair them. Instead, it will just flow into them.
6. Sealcoating Long Island pavements can be just as bad as not sealing them often enough.
Some maintenance contractors want to sealcoat a pavement every time they repair a crack or replace a sign. They may try to justify it by explaining that you will not have to pay a second mobilization fee. They may not tell you that excessive sealant will peel, flake, and crack. At best, your pavement’s appearance will suffer; at worst, it will not have any protection against damage.
Royal Pavement Solutions is a respected paving company serving Long Island commercial clients. Our services include asphalt paving, asphalt sealcoating, asphalt milling, asphalt repairs, and asphalt crack repairs. We also offer concrete repairs and installation, lot striping, site work, building maintenance, and sweeping and portering. We have an exceptional reputation for superior customer service and extraordinary craftsmanship. If you would like to request a free quote, you can call 844-777-7924, or you can submit our online form.
