Sealcoating. What is it and why is it necessary?

What is sealcoat and why is it important to the preservation of my asphalt parking lot or driveway? This is a question that we are asked pretty frequently, and there are a multitude of answers.

Sealcoating, or pavement sealing, is a thin liquid layer applied over a paved surface to protect it from damage caused by UV rays, rain, snow, oils and other fluids from vehicles. We all know that asphalt is made up of primarily rock or gravel, right? Well, that rock is held together with a binder that we, in the asphalt industry, commonly refer to as asphalt cement. As all these different elements seep into the asphalt, they break down that critical binder down causing the asphalt to turn brittle. Once your asphalt turns brittle - you guessed it - it will start falling apart and breaking into pieces, not only becoming a safety issue but an eyesore! If you're into safety, you'll be glad to know that sealcoating your asphalt will also provide a slip resistant surface. So not only does sealcoating protect your asphalt, it protects you, your family, or your customers. We should mention that sealcoating will not cure existing issues, like cracks, but it will help prevent such damage from forming in the first place. That's why it's important to maintain your asphalt with sealcoating!

While sealcoating has many great maintenance benefits, it also has cosmetic benefits as well. Over time, your pavement will start to look faded and dated. A fresh sealcoat application enhances the appearance of asphalt, giving it that deep black finish that makes it look new again. We all know that when it looks new, it brings curb appeal to your home or business! Sealcoating on a regular basis is inexpensive, and as you are learning, will increase the overall longevity of your pavement. What's not to like about that?!

There are some rules when it comes to sealcoating. Of course, we'd love to be the company to help you with this, but whoever you choose, you want to make sure that:

1. The weather is above 50 degrees and will stay that way for a few days.
2. There is no rain forecasted within that same time period.
3. Always make sure that TWO coats are applied.
4. Do not allow vehicles back onto the surface until it has cured (typically about 24 hours). 

​It is important to protect any investment, especially investments in your residential and commercial properties. Scheduling sealcoating maintenance for your asphalt on a regular basis, for instance every other year, can more than double the life of your asphalt. You can imagine the amount of money that sealcoating can save in the long run. Spend thousands of dollars to repave or spend pennies on the dollar to sealcoat. We'll gladly repave for you, but we'd rather help you take care of what you already have if it's in good condition. So, take the necessary steps to ensure that your asphalt pavement investment is protected for years to come by calling us today.  Lucky for you, our crew at AMP Paving loves nothing more than bringing your asphalt back to life! Seriously, give us the opportunity to provide you with some amazing before and afters of your own asphalt!