Professional asphalt sealing is a vital part of maintaining your driveway, parking lot or other pavement surface. It protects against weather, chemicals and wear and tear, and also makes your pavement look new again. While some property owners opt for the do-it-yourself (DIY) route, there are a few things you should know before applying asphalt sealer to ensure your project is done correctly.
1. Don’t Slather Sealant on Pavement – Too Much Is Not Good for It
Inexperienced seal coating contractors often think that slathering a thick layer of sealant over your asphalt will fill cracks and other imperfections, and you won’t have to bother with patching the pavement again. However, this is not the case. In fact, too much sealant can actually cause the cracks and other imperfections to worsen.
2. Avoid Alligatored Pavement – It Indicates Problems
Shapiro notes that alligatored pavement is indicative of problems in the sub-base and should not be sealed. It also isn’t a good idea to use crack fillers on alligatored pavement because it can result in the filler being pushed out by the alligatoring action.
3. Use the Right Asphalt Crack Filler
You can choose from a variety of crack filler placement configurations, including overbanding, reservoirs and a combination. The most cost effective and longest lasting option is a routed reservoir, according to Julian.
Before you apply crack seal, the asphalt must be clean, free of oil stains and debris. You should also choose a day with several days of dry weather after application, as rain can wash away the sealant before it fully dries.…