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When to Seal Asphalt Driveways

  • By admin
  • •
  • 18 Oct, 2018
  • •
Asphalt Driveways — Newly Poured Asphalt on Driveway in Sumner, WA
Periodically sealing asphalt driveways helps driveways resist deterioration and last longer. Specifically, sealing prevents individual stones from eroding and cracks from forming by keeping water from penetrating the asphalt. If you have an asphalt driveway, then here's a guide on when to have it sealed.

Have Your Driveway Sealed After at Least Six Months
First, new driveways shouldn't be sealed within six months of installation because oils in them need to evaporate.

While it takes only a few days for driveways to cure enough so you can park on them, some oils remain in driveways for months. As long as these oils are in asphalt, the asphalt won't be as hard and strong as it could be.

Waiting at least six months between installing a new driveway and sealing it gives the oils in the asphalt ample time to evaporate. Sealing any sooner will trap the oils in the asphalt and the driveway won't be as durable as it should be.

However, sealing is rarely needed six months after a driveway is installed. If your driveway is really in need of sealing this soon after installation, then there might have been an issue with the initial paving. Contact the paving company that put your driveway in and ask them about any problems that are developing.

Have Your Driveway Sealed Every Two to Three Years
Once your asphalt driveway is installed, the general guideline is to seal it every two to three years. Oversealing can actually be detrimental and can create hairline cracks in the sealant and lead to peeling.

Whether two or three years is a better interval for your particular driveway depends on several variables, including the driveway's age, the vehicles you park on it, and the local climate. A professional driveway paving and sealing company can help you determine the exact interval of time to have your driveway sealed based on these factors.

Have Your Driveway Sealed When Individual Stones Are Visible
If you don't know when your asphalt driveway was last sealed, you can go by the driveway's appearance. When individual stones within the asphalt can be distinguished, the driveway should be sealed. If individual stones are visible, they're either already flaking off or will be soon. The sealant will help hold the stones together and stop water from penetrating between the stones.

Have Your Driveway Sealed When Cracks Appear
Similarly, anytime cracks are visible your driveway should be sealed. Cracks are especially bad for driveways, as they allow large amounts of water (which can freeze in cold climates) and debris in under the surface of the asphalt.

If you see any cracks, then you might be able to have just the cracks sealed or you may need the entire driveway sealed depending on how large, deep, and numerous the cracks are.

Have Your Driveway Sealed When the Weather is Warm and Dry
If you decide your driveway needs to be sealed, then schedule the work on a warm day when precipitation isn't in the weather forecast. The temperature should be at least 45 degrees Fahrenheit for a few days, and warmer temperatures are even better. Additionally, rain shouldn't be in the forecast at least two days so the sealant has time to dry.

Have Your Driveway Sealed Before Late Afternoon
If you live in a place that's prone to fog or dew, then make sure your driveway is sealed before late afternoon. The job should be completed while the sun is still fairly high in the sky and temperatures are close to their peak for the day. This will ensure the asphalt has time to initially dry before the next morning's dew or fog washes the sealant off.

Asphalt will still need additional time to dry before it can withstand a rainstorm, but applying earlier in the day lets it cure enough so that fog or dew won't cause any damage. To have your driveway sealed contact our experts at Sealtech Asphalt.

Maintenance Tips That Make Asphalt Parking Lots Last

By Admin • 30 Nov, 2018
Don't let your asphalt parking lot fall into disrepair. Read to learn about several maintenance tips any business owner can implement.

4 Types of Compaction Forces

By Admin • 22 Nov, 2018
Compaction lies at the heart of every paving project, whether you're using asphalt or concrete. In the case of asphalt,compaction helps to ensure a tight, smooth surface. However,even before asphalt or concrete can be placed, the underlying ground must be evenly compacted. This process ensures a stable foundation and prevents problems that might otherwise occur as the result of shifting soil density.

Paving contractors carry out the process of compaction using heavy-duty machines appropriately known as compactors. But not all compactors are the same. These machines may differ in terms of the particular types of compaction forces they utilize.

This article will help to further your understanding of paving installation by discussing the four types of compaction forces used to ensure stable, long-lasting paving results

Benefits of Sealcoating Your Parking Lot | Sealtech Asphalt

By Admin • 10 Sep, 2018
Have you recently had a newparking lot paved for your business? Thejob isn't done yet. Consider thesefour benefits ofapplying sealcoating to your lot.

SealAsphalt Cracks the Right Way | SealtechAsphalt

By Admin • 11 Jul, 2018
Asphalt is one ofthe most durable pavingmaterials,and good repairscan help it lastalong time. Read this blog to learn aboutsealing asphalt properly

Why Your Asphalt Parking Lot Needs Patching | Sealtech Asphalt Inc.

By Admin • 12 Dec, 2017

4 Reasons Your Asphalt Parking Lot Needs Patching

Asphalt parking lots may look relatively invulnerable, but like anything else left out in the weather, they can degrade over time. Whether you've fallen behind on maintenance or whether the asphalt is cracking and crumbling because of faulty construction or installation, seeing potholes and alligator cracks appear can be quite a disconcerting experience.

If this does happen to you, you may want to find out what the underlying problem is in order to make informed decisions about repairs. Here are four reasons these types of damages can occur.


1. Weathering

The weather doesn't have any immediately apparent effect on your parking lot, but over time, the damage builds up. Different types of weather, such as UV rays, fluctuating temperatures, and freeze-thaw cycles, can affect the asphalt in various ways:

  • UV rays degrade the quality of the tarry substance holding the pavement together, making the pavement less supple and more crumbly.
  • Fluctuating temperatures cause the asphalt to expand and contract, causing cracks, especially after the pavement has sustained some UV damage and is more brittle.
  • Freeze-thaw cycles attack your asphalt by causing water that's settled in little crannies in your pavement to expand, forcing the cranny's edges apart to cause cracks.

As you can see, the outside world is no friend to your parking lot. Even if this is the only factor causing cracks, you still need to keep up with maintenance if you want a long-lived asphalt surface and hope to avoid potholes.


2. High Traffic

Heavy traffic levels (especially extremely heavy vehicles) can not only cause cracks but also other types of damage such as buckling — and they can eventually lead to potholes as well.

The more customers you get, the more stress your pavement takes, which is why experts recommend that you occasionally have your parking lot re-painted. By repainting your parking lot and designating new parking areas, you allow different areas of the parking lot to take the heaviest traffic, extending the life of your parking lot.


3. Incorrect Installation

You may have inherited your parking lot from the previous facility owner, and if so, you may not have been around when the parking lot was installed. But you can probably imagine how many problems can occur if the contractor did a poor installation job. Here are just a few of them:

  • Alligator cracking
  • Sunken areas/depressions
  • Buckling
  • Slippage cracks
  • Ruts

Some of these, such as alligator cracking, can be caused by other problems. However, if your pavement is only one or two years old and already has alligator cracks, that's not normal.


4. Oil Leaks

Depending on the type of business you have, your customers may leave their cars in your parking lot for hours at a time — and some of the cars may have slow oil leaks. Oil leaks are a problem for you because the oil breaks down the tarry glue holding your parking lot together, leaving the spot unprotected. If they are not cleaned up, these oil spots can actually lead to potholes.

The initial damage is less extreme. First, the oil eats away at the surface of the asphalt and allows water through. Next, the water works its way all the way down through the layers and causes water damage to the parking lot's foundational levels. Then the entire area of asphalt deteriorates, becomes shot through with cracks, and eventually breaks up until a crater forms.

If you don't patch the area before the pothole finishes forming, the damage could already be spreading to the surrounding asphalt and weakening it as well.

Knowing that your asphalt needs patching is the first step towards getting it patched. The next step is contacting a reputable and experienced company  in your area for a quote, so give Sealtech Asphalt Inc. a call today to discuss how we can help you.

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