Protecting Your Asphalt Pavement With Seal Coating

Asphalt sealing is an important preventative type of work to have done to your pavement. Without a seal coating, the asphalt will be likely to suffer damage as a result of moisture seeping into it. This can gradually reduce the condition of the asphalt, which can dramatically shorten its lifespan.

Fresh Asphalt Should Not Be Sealed

While sealing the asphalt is an important step for protecting the asphalt against moisture and other types of damage, it should be noted that this does not need to be done until the asphalt has fully hardened and cured. Depending on the depth of the asphalt, it could be several months before the asphalt will be ready to have the seal coat applied. Unfortunately, some individuals may assume that this should be done as soon as the asphalt is hardened enough to be used, but applying the coating before the pavement is ready can trap moisture and oils in the asphalt.

You Should Avoid Driving On The Asphalt After It Has Been Sealed

The sealing process will require a thick coating to be applied to the entire surface of the asphalt. This coating will need to be given enough time to fully dry before you drive your car over it or walk on it. Failing to respect this requirement can lead to portions of the sealant being removed before it has bonded to the asphalt and dried. As a result, these areas of the pavement may be more susceptible to suffering damage. Fortunately, seal coatings will dry relatively quickly, and most individuals will find that their asphalt pavement is ready for use within a couple of days of the sealant being applied to it.

De-icing Chemicals Can Degrade Your Asphalt's Seal Coating

Depending on the climate where your home is located, de-icing chemicals may be needed throughout the winter months to keep the asphalt from becoming too slick to safely drive over. However, de-icing chemicals can be somewhat corrosive to asphalt, and you should make it a point to rinse these chemicals off the asphalt as soon as the threat of snow and ice subsides. Otherwise, the chemicals could gradually degrade the seal coat. This could lead to you needing to arrange for a fresh application of the seal coat to be applied much sooner than you originally expected. You can minimize these problems through the use of de-icing chemicals that are designed for use on asphalt surfaces. 

For more information, contact a local paving contractor such as Azzarelli Paving & Site Development.