When Should You Sealcoat an Asphalt Driveway?

Parking lot maintenance is an important part of property management. If your asphalt is in poor condition, it can lead to a number of issues, including cracks and potholes—sending the wrong message to customers. That’s why asphalt sealcoating is so important.

Pavement sealing in Ontario is typically done from mid-April until early November—it’s important that the temperature is above 10 degrees Celsius and there is no chance of heavy rain or frost.

What is Sealcoating?

Put simply, sealcoating is a liquid that is applied to asphalt to prevent oxidation. Oxidation is caused by a combination of exposure to UV rays from the sun, as well as wear from snow and ice during the winter. It also protects against day-to-day wear and tear from traffic.

There are three types of products available for pavement sealing; coal-tar, asphalt emulsions and acrylics. It should be noted that acrylic is typically only used on surfaces such as golf cart paths and to clearly mark the entrance to driveways.

When Do You Need Asphalt Sealcoating?

Take a look at the asphalt on your property; if you notice that it has started to develop severe cracking—or “alligator cracking” because of its resemblance to an alligator’s “hide”— then it is time for repaving. Keep in mind that it is possible to overseal your driveway; oversealing can also cause “alligator cracking” to occur. Look closely at the asphalt, if it has developed cracking similar to what you would see on glazed pottery, it should be repaired immediately.

Get a Professional to Have a Look at Your Parking Lot

If you feel your parking lot is in need of repair, whether you need new asphalt sealcoating or repaving, it’s best to contact an inexpensive, experienced contractor who can handle the job for you. To cut costs, you may consider repairing the damage to the pavement yourself, but unless you have previous experience with sealcoating, the results may be less than optimal.

Luckily, this can be done for a low cost by a professional contractor; it will greatly extend the life of your parking lot and increase the value of your property. Regular maintenance by a gemseal sealing contractor can extend the life of your pavement by up to 30 years! Do yourself (and your asphalt!) a favour—leave the sealcoating up to the professionals. A PolyTar sealing contractor has a trained eye and can easily spot any areas that are in need of repair. They have the proper equipment and experience to do the job right the first time. Though you might be tempted to do it yourself, this is one project where you shouldn’t cut corners—a PolyTar sealing contractor will use the right materials mixed to the proper consistency.

As the leading pavement maintenance contractor of choice for many property managers and business owners in Ontario, Sure-Seal Pavement Maintenance Inc. has first-hand knowledge on how to keep your asphalt surface looking and performing like new. Contact us today for more information on how we can extend the life of your parking lot or driveway and save you money.