7 Facts You Should Know About Sealcoating

Were you aware that in just a few hours, a faded and dreary-looking asphalt pavement surface could be restored to almost new condition through sealcoating? The benefits and magic of sealcoating in Orlando are real, and we are here to share some fascinating facts about sealcoating with you.

What in the world is sealcoating?

Sealcoating is a thin layer of liquid spread over a paved surface to protect it from fluids from vehicles, rain and snow, and damage caused by UV rays. Sealcoating in itself is not designed to fix existing issues in the pavement like cracks and potholes, but it will go a long way toward helping to prevent such damage from forming in the first place.

Correctly applying a sealcoat is essential to extend the life of asphalt paving and keep out damaging elements.

Seven facts about sealcoating

1. Sealcoating is great for protecting and prolonging the life expectancy of asphalt pavement by filling minimal existing surface damage and providing a protective layer to keep out damaging UV rays, water, and vehicle fluids.
2. Regular sealcoating is low cost and can save money in the future. In addition, a properly sealed and maintained asphalt surface has an extended lifetime and significantly reduced repair costs in the long term.
3. Asphalt pavement always becomes faded in appearance over time with exposure to the elements. A new application of sealcoat enhances the appearance of asphalt surfaces, making them look and feel brand new.
4. Sealcoating is typically applied by spraying or squeegeeing the thin layer of liquid onto the existing asphalt surface.
5. Seal coating helps to protect against water penetration, frost, rain, and snow damage by accelerating the melting process of snow and ice on a paved surface.
6. Seal coating should only be done when the pavement temperature is at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit for the duration of the application and for at least 8 hours following application to ensure a proper seal.
7. Asphalt surfaces should always be cleared of all dirt and debris before pavement sealing can be effectively applied.
8. Minor repairs like cracks or potholes should be appropriately filled, and vehicle fluids, like oil, should be adequately removed from paved surfaces before sealcoating.

Sealcoating VS repaving

Every road, parking lot, and driveway is different. Therefore, there are many factors to consider, and there is no simple answer to whether a surface should be repaved or sealcoated. Important considerations include whether the surface has severe existing damage. In this case, it is often time to consider investing in having the surface repaved instead of just patching trouble spots and applying a sealcoat over it.

When pavement becomes severely broken down, it can take on a similar look to alligator hide, known in the industry as alligator cracks. To crack fill over a patch of alligator cracks would likely transform the area into one big sheet of crack filling rubber. Suppose this were to be done during warm weather. In that case, vehicle tires may adhere to the crack filler and pull up the pavement, so in this type of situation, sealcoating is not a viable option, and repaving is a much better choice.

While sealcoating in Orlando can help keep asphalt structures attractive, smooth, and functional, there are limits to its magic. Therefore, asphalt surfaces should be carefully inspected before the decision to sealcoat can be guaranteed to solve the problem.