When you have an asphalt parking lot and/or asphalt anywhere else on your business property, it's a good idea to learn about sealcoating. This way, you understand why sealcoating is something that you don't want to put off having done until age and wear start to show on the asphalt. Here is information on what sealcoating is, the benefits of having it done, and the results you can expect:
What is sealcoating?
Sealcoating is the process of having a sealcoat applied to the top layer of your asphalt. The sealcoat is made from a mixture that's made up of a binder, fillers, aggregates, water, and other additives. These things come together to create a protective fresh layer for the asphalt that also gives the surface an appearance that looks similar to how it looked when it was freshly paved.
What are the benefits of having asphalt sealcoated?
As time goes on, then asphalt will be weakened due to things like the daily exposure to UV rays, different temperatures, moisture, regular wear and tear, and things like oils and chemicals. As the surface of the asphalt gets weaker, it will look faded.
Also, it will be more susceptible to cracking, developing potholes, and other types of damage. When you have the asphalt sealcoated, it adds back a protective layer to the asphalt. The sealcoating will then help to prevent more damage from happening to the asphalt.
Once there is damage to the asphalt, then the damage will need to be repaired. Depending on the extent of the damage, the repairs can become major. In fact, serious damage can result in the need to completely replace some areas of the asphalt. Preventing this type of damage from happening in the first place with routine sealcoating is the best way to go.
What are the results you can expect from sealcoating?
Once you have had the asphalt sealcoated, you will see the surface go from a lighter, faded grey shade to a nice dark black color like it was when the asphalt was originally paved. Also, instead of there being a looser surface that's becoming dry and brittle, it will be a fresh, moist, and properly sealed surface once again. The dark color not only makes the parking lot look new again, but it also helps to provide a proper surface for paint striping that will also look great and provide parking spaces and arrows that will be highly visible once again.
For more information about sealcoating, contact an asphalt paving contractor such as Carolina Striping of North Carolina Inc.
