What is Asphalt Sealcoating?

*Updated on November 2nd, 2020

Sealcoating, a quick overview

Sealcoating ultimately protects asphalt from the harsh wear and tear it undergoes from both the weather and vehicle traffic.

Asphalt is one of the strongest pavement materials available and widely used throughout the Pinellas County, Clearwater, the U.S. and even worldwide. It is widely used because of its sturdy and long lasting properties. This type of pavement mainly comprises of rocks and gravel which is combined by way of a binder material (mainly made of some crude oils). This binder is an important element to maintain and increase the lifetime of the asphalt pavements. But due to the extensive exposure of the pavements to external forces such as U.V. Rays, rain, and other chemicals, the wear, and tear along with the removal of the binder onto the asphalt will be ruined in no time.

Protecting the Asphalt

This is where the asphalt sealcoating comes in. Sealcoating is a type of maintenance program in which there will be another layer that will be applied on top of the original asphalt pavement. This, in turn, will give further protection from external elements such as U.V. rays, rain, and other destructive chemicals. In addition to that, sealcoating will provide a slip-resistant and smoother black finish onto the surface if they are applied following manufacturer’s specifications. This then gives a better appearance thereby providing a more beautiful look on someone’s driveway or parking lot.

What are sealcoats made of?

Seal coats are usually products or acrylics made from bitumen. It is made in a liquid formulation mixed with water, polymer additives, silica sand and other fillers that are considered proprietary. It can be applied by way of brushing, spraying or by the use of a squeegee. If there is a regular application of sealcoating, it is projected to increase the life of the asphalt pavement more than two times its regular life. The amount of sealcoating needed for a given area of asphalt is dependent on a few elements, including the condition of the area, the time since it was last coated and the amount of traffic the area needs to endure for a given period of time.

Asphalt patch jobs

There is another way of maintaining asphalt pavements which are called asphalt overlaying. It is a patch job on an already damaged (or inhibiting potential damage) on an area within the asphalt pavement surface. The method is to lay a thin layer of asphalt onto an existing surface thereby making a new surface layer of asphalt that somehow “patched” or repaired particular potholes and/or cracks. While this method seems to be the faster option, it may not be the most cost-effective one. Asphalt overlay only provides a quick fix as the underlying problems beneath the surface of the asphalt is not properly mitigated. It may have the strong possibility of exposing the underlying problem below the surface in just about a year or two. While this may seem to be a usual way to solve or prevent problems, it is not recommended as it could give more problems over time. With the application of sealcoating on a regular manner, it can give better coverage and security not only the asphalt surface but underneath as well. Sealcoating is much like painting a roof – with a regular application not only gives a cleaner and newer look; it also gives a new layer of protection for destructive liquids that penetrate underneath slowly overtime. Asphalt overlaying could increase the whole pavement’s life for a year or two, but asphalt sealcoating increases the pavement’s life more than double and that alone inarguably provides more efficiency and reliability.

Sealcoating is the best way to extend asphalt lifetime

As a summary, the sealcoating will give longer life to the pavement and relatively costs lesser than any other maintenance methods for asphalt pavements especially when applied regularly and properly. It essentially prevents oxidation, gets better security from water/liquid damage and even leaves a better look.

To maximize the use of sealcoating for maintenance of asphalt pavements, here are some of the important tips to obtain the best performance and longer life for the asphalt pavements:

For each sealcoating session, a minimum of two coats must be applied.

If rain is forecasted within 24 hours, do not apply sealcoating and resume on other instances.
Allow the newly seal coated pavement to cure for 24 hours before using or allowing vehicles to pass onto it.

As long as the above tips are followed properly, the optimum properties and relative advantages of applying sealcoating will be realized over time. One would then enjoy the use of asphalt pavement to its full potential whether aesthetically or functionally.

If your commercial or residential asphalt area is located in the Pinellas or Tampa, Florida area be sure to give Anderson & Son’s Asphalt a chance to earn your business. Contact us today For more information about our asphalt sealcoating services.