Customers sometimes wonder why credible asphalt sealcoating professionals refuse to apply sealants on certain days. To the customer, the conditions may seem acceptable. However, the contractor knows that sealcoating is extremely sensitive to environmental factors, so what may seem like acceptable conditions to others may actually be totally unsuitable. Humidity, temperature and sunlight are all important for the effective curing of sealant, but the wind is a fourth factor that is not as well understood by many customers.
Asphalt Sealcoating & Windy Conditions – How Wind Affects Curing
When sealants are applied, the water that they contain must evaporate if the sealant is to cure thoroughly. On a windless day, the water that is initially evaporated will hover close to the surface, stalling the evaporative process. The colder it is and the higher the humidity level, the more critical it is to have a little wind to circulate the air.
However, high winds can also negatively affect the curing process. If the wind is too strong, the sealant’s surface layer will evaporate its water too quickly. When the rest of the sealant evaporates its water, the top layer can crack and flake. This is unsightly, but it can also result in an insufficient amount of sealant in the damaged areas.
Asphalt Sealcoating & Windy Conditions – How Strong Winds Affect Sealcoating Application
Sealcoating professionals know that the best results are achieved by applying an even layer of sealant. If the pavement is a parking lot or other large area, sealants are typically applied with a sprayer. The rate of spray and the spray pattern are carefully calculated, but if the wind is strong, the sealant can be blown away as it leaves the sprayer. This can lead to areas that receive an insufficient amount of sealant as well as areas that receive too much sealant. The effectiveness of the sealant and the appearance of the pavement can be negatively impacted.
Because the wind scatters the sealant, the risk of overspray increases with the wind speed. Droplets of sealant can be blown onto nearby vehicles, buildings, fences, sidewalks, landscaping, walls, signs and painted curbs. Cured sealcoating can be difficult to remove from unwanted areas without causing damage. To reduce the chances of overspray, sealcoating contractors will typically apply the sealant by hand around the edges of the pavement. The higher the wind speed, the wider the manually applied perimeter will need to be. This can affect the appearance and performance of the sealcoating in these areas.
Another challenge when applying sealcoating on a windy day involves what the wind may carry onto the wet sealant. In the spring, many trees distribute their seed pods, and in the summer, grass clippings can be blown onto the wet pavement. In the autumn, dead leaves are often a problem when sealcoating on a windy day. Candy wrappers, dirt and other debris can be carried by the wind during any season. Removing foreign material from wet sealcoating is typically impossible to do without compromising the quality and appearance of the work.
Credible Sealcoating Professionals Know When to Postpone Applications
Credible sealcoating professionals who are committed to delivering quality work and building lasting relationships with their customers know that there are times when it is best to delay an application. All Pro Asphalt is an asphalt maintenance service contractor and we are dedicated to delivering exceptional results and ensuring that every customer is completely satisfied with our work, so we make sure that conditions will allow us to meet both goals. We offer an extensive range of asphalt pavement services, including seal coating, parking lot striping, asphalt repair, asphalt paving, infrared asphalt restoration, concrete installation and concrete repair. If you have more questions about Asphalt Sealcoating & Windy Conditions or would like a free estimate, call (816) 249-6800 or completing the online request form.
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