Services - Sealcoating
Sealcoating
is one of the most important elements of a pavement management plan. A sealcoat
consists of either coal tar pitch or asphalt cement mixed with inert fillers, water,
emulsifying agents, or additives. Applied in thin coats, pavement sealing is used
to protect off-highway pavement surfaces against gasoline, oil, salt, water, and
ultraviolet rays.
Sealcoating Benefits:
Beautification
When covered with a dark black sealant, pavement looks and wears like new. Parking
lot sealcoating helps to project a positive image of the company, facility, or residential
complex.
Slows oxidation and water penetration
Sealcoating fills surface voids, which reduces exposure to oxygen and UV rays and
reduces the depth to which oil or gas can penetrate the pavement.
Sealcoating acts as a waterproofing agent, minimizing the rate at which water enters
pavement. Without it, water can permeate more freely resulting in freeze/thaw expansion
and contraction of the pavement.
Sealcoating resists oil and gas spills
Gasoline dripping from a topped-off fuel tank during hot weather can soften and
break down unsealed asphalt pavements. Coal tars used in sealcoat are impervious
to gas and oil spills.
Asphalt sealcoating is easier to clean and maintain
Sealcoats fill surface voids while coating the pavement surface. The resulting smooth
and even texture makes the surface easier to maintain year-round. For example, snow
is easier to remove from a smooth surface, and sweeping is far more effective on
a smooth surface.
Sealcoating increases pavement flexibility
Sealcoat brings a dark black color to the pavement. The blacker it is, the more
heat a pavement draws from the sun. And, the hotter it gets, the more pliable it
becomes, which helps it to withstand traffic without cracking.
Protects asphalt from pressure washing
Restaurant parking lots often extend to areas near dumpsters, where food-processing
machines are pressure washed. Food waste near the dumpsters may also need to be
washed away if it can't be swept away. Sealcoating protects asphalt cement from
the high-volume water pressure and detergents used in pressure washing.
Asphalt sealcoating is cost effective
The price of asphalt will always be affected by crude oil prices, which fluctuate
when supplies vary. Sealcoating preserves asphalt for pennies per square foot.
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