Sealcoating Shortcuts an Asphalt Company Should Never Take

A shortcut can sometimes be a good thing. For example, if you find a shorter route between your home and your office that takes less time and fuel, you would probably be delighted. However, there are some shortcuts that no commercial sealcoating contractor should take when mixing or applying an asphalt sealant.

What Shortcuts Should Contractors Avoid When Mixing Asphalt Sealcoating?

Contractors typically receive powdered sealants that must be mixed with water and sand to prepare a liquid for application. Each component must be in the correct ratio to provide the desired results. Some contractors deliberately alter the ratios in an effort to reduce their costs. For example, reducing the sand in the mix allows room to increase the water. The mixture seems to cover more pavement, but the product will be too thin to have a long life. Experienced contractors may think that they have every mix formula memorized, so they skip checking the manufacturer’s instructions prior to mixing the sealant. Manufacturers can alter their products, which can change the amounts of the ingredients that need to be added. Contractors must take the time to verify the correct formula for the specific sealant they are mixing, and they must follow the instructions carefully.

What Shortcuts Should Contractors Avoid When Applying Asphalt Sealants?

A successful sealant application involves much more than just coating the pavement. Most application errors can be traced to a contractor who rushed the process.

• The pavement needs to be clean before a sealant is applied. Dirt, trash, grass clippings, and other debris must be removed. Oil stains need to be scrubbed or primed. Sealants cannot bond properly to a dirty pavement.

• Asphalt crack sealing and other repair procedures need to be completed prior to the sealant application. You may need to have an asphalt paving company patch any potholes or areas of alligator cracking if your maintenance contractor offers a limited range of paving services. However, many parking lot sealcoating contractors offer crack repairs, asphalt patching, and striping services, and selecting a company that can handle your entire project can often save you time, and it may also save you a few dollars.

• Sealants should never be applied as a single thick coat. Most pavements need two thin coats, but the first coat should be allowed to dry sufficiently before the second coat is applied.

• A sprayer can be a great tool for quickly covering large, open expanses of pavement with a sealant. However, there are situations that require the use of a squeegee, including cutting in around the edges of the pavement, getting into areas that cannot be reached with a sprayer, or applying a sealant in close proximity to a wall, building, or fence.

• Contractors cannot rush to start or finish a job if the weather conditions are not likely to allow a successful application. Rain, high humidity levels, temperatures below about 55 degrees Fahrenheit, cloudy skies, and strong winds can all affect the quality of the finished project.

• If the contractor is providing your parking lot sealcoating and your striping, the sealant must be sufficiently cured before the striping begins. Sometimes, it is possible to apply two coats of sealant and complete the parking lot markings in a single day, but it is not always an option.

Peterson Grading & Paving is an Orange County Paving company that offers exceptional work at competitive prices to customers in most parts of Southern California, including the greater Los Angeles area. Our paving services include asphalt sealcoating, asphalt paving, concrete flatwork and ramps, asphalt patching, concrete repairs, warehouse striping, asphalt crack sealing, shot blasting, line removal, bollards, parking lot signs, ADA compliance services, marking removal, asphalt overlays, and parking lot striping. Our customers include hotels, commercial property management companies, churches, facility managers, hotels, HOAs, educational institutions, retail stores, and condos. We have an impeccable reputation for craftsmanship, integrity, and dependability. For a free quote, submit the online form, call 949-402-6979, or send an email to Ryan@GradePave.com.