5 Important Questions to Ask before Sealcoating Your Asphalt Pavement

Sealcoating asphalt driveways, parking lots, and roads helps sustain the pavement and prevent damages caused by a variety of different natural and external elements. Hiring professional contractors is the best way to ensure that the job is done right and that it will maximize the durability and longevity of your asphalt pavement. Before you settle on a contractor, though, be sure to ask them the following asphalt sealcoating questions.

What Does the Sealcoating Process Do?

The purpose of sealcoating is to protect your asphalt pavement from external elements such as pressure from vehicles, moisture, snow, ice, and UV rays that can damage it. When applied correctly, sealcoating acts as a strong protective barrier that extends the lifespan and performance of your asphalt pavement. It clings directly to your existing aggregate and prevents external elements from penetrating the surface of the asphalt.

How Do You Prepare Asphalt Pavement for Sealcoating?

Professional asphalt sealcoating services in Toronto utilize painstaking steps to prepare your pavement for the sealcoating process. Before they arrive on the scene, however, there are certain things that you as a property owner can do or not do to make their jobs a lot easier. If you have grass anywhere on your property, abstain from mowing it until a few days after the sealcoating project is complete. Mowing the grass before sealcoating or while the pavement is still drying will result in grass clippings getting stuck to the aggregate.

Don’t drive or park vehicles on the freshly sealcoated pavement as that will cause structural issues and leave tire tread marks in your asphalt surface. Wait until the sealcoat is completely dry (about 24 to 48 hours) before using your asphalt pavement.

Lastly, make sure that the pavement is completely dry before sealcoating. Sealcoat won’t adhere properly to wet or damp asphalt, rendering the whole process ineffective.

Also, make sure you provide a clean surface. Any debris remaining on the surface will stick to the sealcoat.

How Long Does the Sealcoating Application Process Take?

That depends on a few different factors including the size and layout of your asphalt pavement, the humidity levels in the air, and weather conditions. If it just rained the day before or overnight, then you will have to reschedule your sealcoating job until the pavement is completely dry. Generally speaking, most sealcoating jobs can be completed in about a day, but it could take up to 24 to 48 hours for the pavement to fully dry.

When Is the Right Time to Sealcoat Asphalt?

Typically, spring or summer are the best times of year to sealcoat your asphalt pavement. Spring and summer provide the ideal weather conditions and a lower chance of rain, which ensures your sealcoating will dry properly. Plus, the mild temperatures make for more ideal working conditions for the contractors. Warmer weather also helps the sealcoating cure and dry faster, which minimizes your business’s downtime.

What Happens after Sealcoating?

Once the application process is complete, the sealcoat needs enough time to cure and dry. Depending on the size of your property, the number of layers applied, and the humidity levels in your area, the drying and curing process varies in length from a few hours to 24 to 48 hours. It’s a good idea to plan the sealcoating project during your business’s least busy or off-peak hours.

Also Read: Questions to Ask Before Sealcoating Your Parking Lot

Professional Asphalt Pavement Sealing Services in Toronto

With over 25 years of asphalt driveway and parking lot sealing experience, Sure-Seal Pavement Maintenance Inc. has earned a reputation for being one of the leading asphalt contractors in Toronto and the GTA. Contact us today if you have an asphalt sealcoating questions.