When Should I Sealcoat Asphalt Pavement?

Sealcoating an asphalt pavement parking lot is essential to protecting your investment.

How do can you tell when you should sealcoat asphalt? After new pavement is installed, it’s recommended to wait approximately six months to one year before sealcoating. Having your parking area sealcoated can almost double the life expectancy of the asphalt. Asphalt sealant protects your asphalt against the elements – rain, snow, ice and harmful UV rays.  The sealant also protects your asphalt from oil, gas, antifreeze or any other chemicals that can leak onto the asphalt and eat away at the pavement.

When Should I Have Sealcoating Reapplied?

While there’s no cut and dried answer to when sealcoating should be reapplied, it’s suggested to have sealant reapplied once every three years to maintain the surface quality throughout the lifetime of your parking lot.

If you can’t remember or don’t have records to tell you how long its been since your parking area was sealcoated, there are a few ways you can determine if it’s time to having your paving contractor come out. The first and most noticeable signs of asphalt deterioration are change in color from rich black to grey and cracks in the pavement, which widen over time. When you start noticing these changes, it’s time to sealcoat.  The damage will continue if preventative and treatment measures are not taking.  If in doubt, contact your local paving contractor, he can assess your parking lot and make recommendations for treatment and future care.

Why Should I Sealcoat Asphalt Pavement?

There are several reasons why you should have your asphalt pavement sealcoated.  First, to make your parking lot look better and last longer – sealcoating just may be the answer. Sealcoating, as we mentioned before, stops weather damage by preventing the damaging effects of water penetration. It also prevents the sun’s ultraviolet rays from hardening and drying out the asphalt pavement surface. This damaging effect is called oxidation. Another reason you should have your parking lots asphalt sealcoated is that it resists the highly damaging effects of gas and oil seepage and all other road chemicals. And finally, asphalt sealcoating also restores the pavement to the original black color, which greatly enhances the overall appearance of a property. 

Worried About Down Time?

If you’re worried about the effect of having a paving contractor shut down your parking lot for an extended period of time, have no fear. A professional paving work crew is highly experienced in offering a quick job turn-around to minimize interruption of your business. They will devise a plan that will get the job done right, in a minimal amount of time and have little impact on the parking access for your customers, visitors, and other building occupants.

About ABC Paving and Sealcoating

With more than 20 years of experience, ABC Paving and Sealcoating is Florida’s leading paving contractor.  ABC Paving and Sealcoating provides commercial organizations with the highest level of customer service, professional workmanship and services including:  asphalt paving, asphalt repairs and prevention, pothole repairs, sealcoating, line striping and pavement marking, thermoplastic, crack filing, signs and safety devices, concrete sidewalks, concrete curbs, site preparation and signs and safety devices.  We use our experience and the latest equipment available to get the job done right the first time in a timely, cost effective manner.  For more information about ABC Paving and Sealcoating, visit our website at http://pavingandsealcoating.com or call 866-921-8719 for a free estimate.