Crucial Benefits Of Seal Coating Your Pavement

Key Takeaways:

1. Pavement sealing, also known as seal coating, is an integral part of regular maintenance for every type of asphalt surface.
2. Sealcoating provides a protective layer that blocks moisture, dirt and other damaging elements from penetrating your pavement.
3. Regularly seal coating your pavement will help increase its lifespan significantly – up to three times longer than pavement that is not sealed.
4. Sealcoating makes pavement attractive with a new, glossy black finish and gives off a polished, professional appearance.
5. Sealcoating helps you save money throughout the years since you don’t have to replace pavement as often, and it prevents costly repairs.

Are you a homeowner or business owner with an asphalt-paved driveway, parking lot, or other outdoor surfaces? If so, then it’s likely that your pavement is exposed to the elements daily. That means it’s subject to all kinds of wear and tears over time, from UV rays and irrigation water to oil spills and heavy vehicle traffic. All these things can cause significant damage without proper care from seal coating periodically. Seal coating, otherwise known as pavement sealing, is an integral part of regular maintenance for every type of asphalt surface. Not only does it help maintain the life cycle of your pavement, but there are several other benefits you may have yet to consider! In this article, 309 Paving Services will discuss what seal coating is in more detail and uncover some significant advantages that make this process worth considering soon — if not immediately!

Understanding Your Pavement

To grasp the lasting effect of pavement sealer on your parking lot, we must first comprehend the intrinsic nature of asphalt pavements. Asphalt — a black substance surrounding pavement aggregate – is created from oil refining. This petroleum-based product provides superior waterproofing features, excellent flexibility, and remarkable stickiness to bind all its components tightly.

Hot mix asphalt pavement is advantageous for riding and parking surface safety. It safeguards the layer beneath – aggregate base and subbase. When water penetrates through the asphalt layer, its structural integrity weakens, resulting in hazardous potholes and alligator-type cracking that can cause further damage requiring costly repairs. Consequently, properly maintaining hot mix asphalt avoids such headaches by protecting what’s below from getting wet.

Sadly, asphalt is far from infallible. Over time, its black color will diminish and become grey due to sun exposure, air pollution, weather conditions, and heavy traffic. Shortly after this happens, one may notice small “hairline” cracks in the asphalt.

To sustain your pavement, timely and accurate sealcoating applications are essential. In comparison to other forms of pavement maintenance including crack sealing, remove-and-replace repairs, and asphalt overlays – sealcoating is the most straightforward yet cost-effective method for preserving your surface. It also minimizes disruption in contrast with other remedies available on the market today.

So, what advantages does sealcoating offer? Let’s explore:

Benefits Of Seal Coating Your Pavement

1. Increased Pavement Longevity

Sealcoating provides a protective layer that blocks moisture, dirt and other damaging elements from penetrating your pavement. This stops the pavement from cracking due to weathering or vehicles driving over it. Regularly seal coating your pavement will help increase its lifespan significantly – up to three times longer than pavement that is not sealed.

2. Improved Aesthetic Appearance

Sealcoating makes pavement look attractive with a new, glossy black finish. It gives off a polished, professional appearance, making your business stand out. As such, this boosts curb appeal in commercial and residential settings by creating an inviting entrance for visitors and customers alike.

3. Cost-Effective Solution

Sealcoating helps you save money throughout the years since you don’t have to replace pavement as often. It also prevents costly repairs and significantly decreases liability risks due to pavement slips and falls on unsafe pavement surfaces.

4. Protection From Water Damage

Seal coating pavement helps protect asphalt pavement by providing a waterproof seal over it, preventing moisture from seeping in and causing damage. This layer of protection is especially beneficial in climates with high humidity or areas that experience wet weather conditions.

5. Easy Maintenance

Regularly sealcoating your pavement requires minimal effort and time, making it easier to maintain a neat appearance without having to go through the hassle of replacing pavement altogether. You need periodic resealing maintenance every two to three years for optimal results, so you don’t need to worry about pavement resurfacing every year.

6. Increases Pavement Life Expectancy

Sealcoating your pavement helps extend its lifespan, allowing it to look new for longer. While asphalt pavement can generally last up to 20 years, a seal coating can help maintain that longevity, so you don’t have to replace pavement as often. Additionally, the regular coating will prevent large cracks from forming and pavement deterioration over time, helping you save money in the long run.

Related: Scheduling A Sealcoating: What Time Of Year Is Best?

The Cost Of Asphalt Seal Coating

When sealing a typical 400-square-foot driveway, the average cost you can expect to pay is $526. However, prices may vary depending on the size and type of sealant used – ranging from as low as $274 to an estimated high of $801. For each square foot applied, asphalt sealing costs around $1.44, with estimates falling between just under seventy cents per foot ($0.68) and one dollar sixty-four ($1.64).

DIY vs. Hiring a Professional

Suppose you’re thinking of taking on the task of sealing your asphalt driveway yourself. In that case, you must have all the necessary tools and knowledge to do it properly. Although DIY jobs can save around $1.15 per square foot in labor costs, remember that this is only about half of the total cost; equipment expenses also need to be accounted for! Before starting a DIY job, ensure you take into consideration these points:

Safety is paramount; always ensure your skin and eyes are shielded from contaminants such as fumes or sprays. Before applying the sealcoat, you must eliminate all oil, stains, and debris from the surface for a successful repair. To guarantee quality repairs, take care to carefully address any cracks before commencing with the sealant application process – if you don’t follow the correct procedure, it may be necessary to hire an expert to rectify mistakes.

Professional driveway sealing is a cost-effective way of saving time and hassle due to the lack of necessary equipment. If you decide to employ someone for this service, ensure they are adequately vetted by reading customer reviews and ensuring that your contractor is certified, licensed, and insured. This will give you peace of mind knowing that your job has been completed correctly with professional results!

Here’s How 309 Paving Services Can Help You

309 Paving Services serving Bloomington, IL, and surrounding areas, is a full-service asphalt maintenance company. Our asphalt sealcoating services are tailored to protect your lot from daily wear, UV rays, and the elements. What’s more, with regular upkeep, our coatings will preserve the pristine condition of your lot for years ahead! Our experts utilize the top-of-the-line products from GemSeal® to ensure that your pavement is in its best condition. These products bond with asphalt for slip resistance, and the Rapid Set helps quicken adhesion and drying time too! So you can kick back knowing that your lot will look great sooner than ever! Get a free estimate today!

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