Studies have shown that if the sealcoating is maintained throughout the life of an asphalt pavement, the pavement can last up to twice as long. Sealcoating is an economical, extremely effective way to help protect asphalt pavement from the damaging effects of the sun, petroleum-based automotive fluids, harsh chemicals and water penetration. To obtain the best results for the pavement, however, it is necessary to obtain the best results from a sealcoating application. If the sealcoating fails, the pavement will not have the protection it needs to achieve its full life. You could be faced with having to pay to have fresh sealcoating applied much sooner than you expected.
Sealcoating: Successes & Failures – Why Sealcoating Can Deteriorate Prematurely
Sealants are in a liquid state when they are applied. As the sealcoating dries and cures, it forms a hard shell and forms a strong bond with the pavement. Anything that interferes with the formation of the bond or the shell can cause the sealcoating to fail.
• Oil Stains: The ability to prevent two substances from sticking to each other is often desirable, but oil spots on asphalt pavement can lead to a sealcoating failure. The sealant will not be able to bond to the oily area. Prior to applying a sealant, oil spots must be thoroughly cleaned. In many instances, however, cleaning is not enough, so a primer may need to be applied to ensure a strong bond.
• Foreign Materials: Dirt, grass clippings and gravel will interfere with the establishment of a strong bond. All such materials must be removed and the pavement cleaned properly before the sealcoating application begins.
• Unrepaired Damage: Sealants are not repair products. They cannot repair alligatored asphalt, fill potholes or seal large cracks. Damaged areas must be repaired before the sealant is applied to ensure a proper bond is established and to prevent flaking and cracking of the sealcoating.
• Pavement’s Age: New asphalt pavement should not be sealed before the excess oil in the pavement has had time to dissipate. Depending on the weather, the pavement may need to age for as long as 12 months, but in most cases, sealcoating can be applied in as little as 60 days following the installation.
• Skipping Primer: Oil spots are not the only areas that may need to have primer applied. Older pavements often have stones or rocks that have become polished and too smooth for a bond to form without primer. A highly oxidized pavement may also need to be primed prior to sealcoating.
• Tree Sap: Special attention must be given to areas with tree limbs that hang over the pavement. If sealant is applied over sap, the sap will prevent bonding, causing the sealant to develop localized flaking. The sap must be removed before applying the sealant, and in many cases, this will require power washing or intensive scrubbing.
If you want to avoid the premature failure of your asphalt sealcoating, you should select a reputable, experienced contractor. At All Pro Asphalt, we are sealcoating experts serving the greater Kansas City area. We also offer parking lot striping, infrared asphalt repair, asphalt paving, concrete work and asphalt crack repair. We use only the best products and techniques to ensure that you will be completely satisfied with the results. If you have more questions about Sealcoating: Successes & Failures, or would like to request a free, no-obligation estimate, please submit our online quote request or call 816-249-6800.
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