Let’s learn more about Asphalt sealcoating in this short article:
Asphalt paving your parking lots is a significant investment, but issues like cracks and potholes are a nightmare for most property managers and homeowners. Elements like water, oil, and UV rays take a hard toll on your asphalt parking lots. So, what’s the best solution? The most effective solution is sealcoating the parking lot to protect and prolong its shine and prevent damage to the base layer of the asphalt.
So, if you’re looking to prolong the lifespan of your asphalt pavement, this asphalt sealcoating technique has a lot to offer. It not only revamps the shine and smoothness of the asphalt, but it will also protect its black texture against vehicle traffic and extreme weather conditions.
Expert asphalt seal coating companies recommend resealing once every year to maintain their appearance and protect them from cracks and oil damage. But if you’re living in a climate with freezing winters and hot summers, you might have to reseal the parking lot once every two to three years.
Here’s a detailed guide about everything you need to consider about asphalt paving and asphalt sealcoating:
Asphalt: What It is?
Asphalt, like many other construction materials, is a pretty standard paving material. Asphalt paving is used for surfacing roads, flooring, roofing, and parking lots. It is a mixture of dark bitumen, sand, or gravel. The bitumen, used as a binding agent, is a highly viscous liquid form of petroleum. It can be obtained from natural deposits or may be a refined product.
When paved correctly, asphalt parking lots can perform much like concrete but at a cheaper cost. The only maintenance it requires is resealing every few years. Other than that, asphalt is a highly flexible product that gives you superior riding quality that makes it the best choice for your parking lots.
Asphalt paving or blacktop
Although people use the terms interchangeably, there is a difference between asphalt paving and blacktop. The materials that are used to make blacktop and asphalt are the same. Both are made from two ingredients: bitumen and crushed stone. The difference lies in how those ingredients are combined to make the final product.
Paving of Asphalt
In typical paving of asphalt parking lot, we first provide a solid and well-draining base. It is a 4 to 8 inches of well compacted granular fill. Above its top, we provide a 2 to 3-inch layer of fresh and hot asphalt quickly compacted by a heavy steamroller machine. The best part about asphalt is that you can drive on asphalt parking lots immediately after installation. You won’t need to wait for seven days as in the case of concrete pavements. The paving machine takes care of all the laying of smooth and even thickness of asphalt layer.
The process of asphalt paving is pretty quick. That means there’s a minimum of disruption for the traffic to your property. Although the time to paving depends on the length of the parking lot in most cases, the paving typically takes just one day. Moreover, paving is a fascinating process to observe.
If there’s old paving that needs removal, you can add a day or more to the job. We’ll remove the old paving and excavate to a suitable depth as required for the sub-base. The removed material will be taken away for recycling. Later on, we’ll install a sub-base. We’ll place the sub-base material and compact it using a vibratory roller and vibratory plate compactor.
Asphalt Grinding & Overlay – Definition and Procedure
In some parking lots that pavement is not severely deteriorated, existing asphalt can be ground and overlaid. This is an inexpensive way to preserve the pavement for a few more years where the owners do not have the required budget to replace the entire pavement.
Asphalt Sealcoating – Definition and Procedure
For starters, never seal a new asphalt parking lot. Asphalt needs a minimum of a month for the oils in it to evaporate. So, if you apply parking lot sealer before your asphalt has time to cure, it won’t achieve the necessary hardness, and all your work will be for naught.
If you’ve recently installed a new parking lot, wait at least 90 days to a year to ensure the sealant doesn’t damage the asphalt. Sealcoating a new parking lot too early may trap oils within the asphalt, resulting in a too soft or flexible parking lot. Sealcoat your asphalt parking lot when the temperature is 50–90°F.
Rain and other precipitation will ruin the hard work you put into sealing your parking lot. Rain will wash away the parking lot sealer, resulting in an uneven or nonexistent coat of sealant.
Asphalt Paving and Sealcoating services
The best thing you can do for your asphalt parking lots is sealcoating. So, whether you need to repave your parking lot or want to seal coat the existing one, we’re here to help.
At Sunpeak, we’re offering top-notch services relevant to asphalt paving and asphalt sealcoating. Sunpeak is your one-stop shop for all services like striping, ADA Ramps & Signs, Curb Painting, Site Concrete, Grinding, and Demolition. Our crew is professionally trained, and they never hesitate to go that extra mile for your satisfaction.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
