Unpredictable weather patterns and unseasonably cold summers can make it challenging to figure out a feasible time of year to apply sealcoating to your asphalt in the GTA. Summer is the standard time of year in most regions to sealcoat parking lots and driveways because it boasts warmer temperatures, prolonged periods of direct sunlight, and reduced chance of precipitation than any other season. The problem is that summer is also the busiest time of year for a lot of people because they tend to go on vacation and spend most of their time outdoors basking in the beautiful weather, which means their asphalt is often neglected for about four months of the year.
For the most part, professional asphalt sealcoating contractors probably wouldn’t recommend waiting until the end of summer to start thinking about repairing or sealcoating your parking lot unless it’s absolutely necessary. Even though waiting until the end of the season can pose greater risks for you financially and practically, there are certain circumstances under which it might still be possible to sealcoat your asphalt even after the warm weather has dissipated.
There are a few important factors to consider when it comes to deciding when to seal a new asphalt driveway. The obvious answer is that you should do it immediately after the liquid asphalt is applied and fully dried, but there are certain things that could get in the way of that depending on the time of year you decide to install a new driveway or parking lot.
The weather in your area is a huge deciding factor in whether or not you should sealcoat your asphalt driveway or parking lot during any given time of year. As we’ve seen in Toronto and the GTA, summertime doesn’t always guarantee ideal weather conditions. New asphalt and sealant requires optimal weather conditions, copious amounts of direct sunlight, and high temperatures to settle and cure properly. The longer you wait to do it though, the less likely you are to get desirable results.
Far too often, people wait until autumn, right before the first snowfall to try to secure an asphalt sealcoating appointment in Toronto and this is a big mistake. Even if the snow hasn’t fallen yet, the temperatures have already begun to drop and the sun sets much sooner than it does in the summer. This means that asphalt sealcoating companies will have to spend more time, money, and resources on your project to get their crews and equipment out to your location multiple times. Typically, they have to apply two layers to of sealcoating to guarantee good results and this can usually be done in one day during the summer. In the fall, however, they might have to let the asphalt cure a lot longer because it won’t dry as fast, which means they can only apply one layer at a time. The crew will have to come back the next day to complete the job and this will result in increased costs for you.
Asphalt sealant manufacturers have a wide variety of products that are formulated to be suitable for almost any and all weather conditions. However, there are many unforeseeable variables that can counteract their formulas, meaning they’re not foolproof. Certain varieties of sealants contain additives or agents that are meant to combat external threats to your asphalt and speed up the curing process. But, even the slightest chance of precipitation could completely destroy the sealant and take you back to square one. That’s why a lot of manufacturers advise that you use their products with discretion and under the advisement of an experienced asphalt sealcoating contractor.
Before you embark on sealing your asphalt driveway or parking lot, there are a few housecleaning tips you should follow. First and foremost, make sure to thoroughly remove all debris from the surface. This can’t be stressed enough. Lingering pieces of garbage, dirt, and leaves will only serve to offset all of the hard work and money you put into sealing your asphalt. Second, scan the property for any necessary repairs and implement them. This includes oil stain removal, crack repair, pothole filling, and anything else you can think of. If you sealcoat your asphalt without repairing even the most minor damages, then all you’re really doing is enclosing the damages and creating an environment that enables them to worsen.
End-season sealcoating come with its fair share of challenges. Some of these challenges affect you—the client and property owner—while others affect the contractors. One of the main challenges, as mentioned is deciphering an appropriate and practical time to perform the task at hand.
Since summer is an exceptionally busy season for most contractors, you might have a hard time finding one that’s available for an appointment. If you don’t find an available contractor, then you have two choices: do the job yourself and risk damaging or further damaging your asphalt; or, wait it out until next summer and book an appointment earlier.
Any reputable asphalt sealing contractor will tell you that it’s a huge risk to start sealcoating your driveway or parking lot late into the summer season or in the fall. Not many of them will want to take the risk of disappointing their clients if their work doesn’t turn out according to their high standards. This means that the longer you wait to book an appointment, the more some contractors might actually reserve the right to turn you away because they don’t want to have to rush just to complete a job faster if it means producing lower quality work. That would pose a huge risk to their reputation and positive word of mouth spreads fast, but negative reviews spread like wildfire.
Sure-Seal Pavement Maintenance Inc. is one of the premier asphalt sealcoating companies in Toronto and the GTA. We specialize in installing, repairing, and sealing residential, commercial, and industrial properties and are fully backed up by our seven-year product and labour guarantee. The next time you search for “driveway sealing companies near me”, contact us instead.
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