Why You Should Sealcoat Your Asphalt Parking Lot Before Winter

Sealcoating your asphalt parking lot is a surefire way to protect it from all of the potentially harmful elements such as heavy precipitation, snowfall, and flyaway debris this winter. Realistically, you should sealcoat your parking lot approximately once every two to three years to keep it looking fresh, clean, smooth, and presentable to your current and prospective employees and customers. On top of that, sealcoating your asphalt pavement parking lot can help give you the safety and legal peace of mind you need in order to continue successfully running your business. It’s in your absolute best interest to hire prominent and experienced parking lot sealing contractors in Toronto to maintain, repair, and install effective safety measures on your property.

Reasons to Sealcoat Your Parking Lot Now

The ideal time of year to sealcoat your asphalt parking lot is before the first frost hits or even before the leaves start to fall. Overnight temperatures should be approximately 10 degrees Celsius so that the freshly applied sealant can properly cure. Unfortunately, fallen leaves can become embedded in sealant that hasn’t completely dried yet, which is problematic because this can create penetrable cracks in the protective top layer of your asphalt and compromise the integrity of the sealant. That’s why you should realistically seal your parking lot sometime in late August or early September before the leaves begin to fall to the ground. However, it’s not too late to do it now as long as you make sure to thoroughly clean up the exterior of your property and keep it clean until the sealant has fully dried. There are numerous benefits to asphalt parking lot sealcoating, including the following:

Cost-Efficient

Sealcoating your parking lot provides unparalleled long-term cost-efficiency because you won’t have to spend as much money on repairing your pavement, which will allow you to allocate funds to other more pertinent aspects of running your business. The upfront costs of sealcoating aren’t quite as expensive as having to administer major repairs down the line. Your future self will thank you.

Durable

Certain sealcoating materials such as the PolyTar, GemSeal, and GRACO aggregates used by Sure-Seal Pavement Maintenance Inc. are far more durable and last longer than other lesser known brands. All of these brands are widely recognized throughout the asphalt maintenance industry in Ontario and have been proven to help extend asphalt lifespans exponentially.

Prevent Crack and Pothole Formations

Even the smallest of cracks can eventually transform into unsightly and hazardous potholes that can lower the curb appeal of your property and potentially cause vehicular damage or even injury. All of these may seem like unlikely worst case scenarios until they actually happen on your property. When it comes to the appearance and safety of your property, it’s always a good idea to think ahead and be prepared for the worst. Implementing proper maintenance techniques such as sealcoating your parking lot on a regular basis is an excellent way of anticipating all of these things ahead of time and preventing them before they happen.

Protects Your Pavement From Harsh Winter Elements

Sealcoating provides a strong protective barrier between your pavement and the harsh winter elements that can cause expensive damages. It helps prevent indentations, cracks, potholes, and standing water from penetrating the surface of the asphalt and destroying its internal structure. The weight of a heavy snowfall coupled with freezing water and solid ice along with the steady flow of large vehicles and foot traffic can test the strength of your asphalt and put a lot of pressure on it. That’s why you need a heavy-duty protective layer to shield it from all of these elements and help maintain its durability.

Extend the Lifespan of Your Pavement

By taking appropriate steps to protect your asphalt against the harsh winter climate in Toronto, you’re also effectively helping to make it last a lot longer than it otherwise would. In the long run, this preventative measure will also help you save a great deal of money on future necessary repairs. Keep in mind that repairing or even replacing severely damaged asphalt is a lot more expensive than sealcoating it from the beginning. Routinely sealcoating your asphalt will unquestionably make it last at least 20-30 years, so it’s definitely a worthwhile expenditure.

Increase Property Safety

Essentially, you’re legally responsible for any incidents that take place on your property, especially if it’s something that could’ve been avoided with careful routine maintenance. For instance, if an accident occurs because a vehicle ran over a large and deep pothole on your property, then you’re legally liable to pay for damages and this will inevitably increase your insurance premiums. Even worse, if someone becomes injured on your property due to a slip and fall or because a driver loses control of their vehicle on your property due to improper maintenance, not only will this result in negative publicity for your business, but it could also be major grounds for a lawsuit against your company. It’s better to be able to anticipate these types of incidents before they happen and be aptly prepared for them.

Reduce Ice Formation

Because most sealants are typically black, they can easily attract and absorb an abundance of heat from the sun, which helps reduce the amount of potentially dangerous ice formation on your asphalt. This is highly beneficial to both the environment and your bank account because it means you won’t have to apply de-icing treatments or salt to melt the ice.

Hire Sure-Seal Pavement Maintenance Inc. to Sealcoat Your Asphalt Parking Lot

If you’ve been spending a lot of time Googling the term “parking lot sealcoating near me”, then you need not look any further than Sure-Seal Pavement Maintenance Inc. We have over 20 years of experience installing, maintaining, and sealcoating both commercial and residential parking lots in Toronto and the GTA. All of our projects come with an industry recognized seven-year minimum warranty to ensure both the quality of our work and the products we use. Contact us today to book an initial consultation and comprehensive property inspection!

Photo Credit: iStock.com/alika1712