The Total Guide to Asphalt Sealcoating in Orange County

Asphalt is an ideal choice for all types of Orange County pavements. Asphalt paving is not as expensive as concrete and is faster to install. Asphalt is also superior in reducing glare from the pavement on a typical sunny day in Southern California. A proactive maintenance program that includes asphalt sealcoating can help you get more years from your pavement.

The Total Guide to Asphalt Sealcoating in Orange County

What Is Asphalt Sealcoating?

Sealcoating is a liquid mixture of water, sealant, sand, and it may incorporate additives to provide or enhance specific benefits. After the liquid sealant mix is applied, it evaporates its moisture during the curing process. While curing, the sealant bonds to the pavement, resulting in a tough barrier that helps prevent pavement damage.

What Types of Damage Will Asphalt Sealcoating Help Prevent?

One of the most formidable sources of damage to asphalt pavements in Orange County is the sun. The sun emits ultraviolet radiation that will make asphalt pavements dry and faded. Faded pavements are less attractive, but dry asphalt pavements are brittle, so they are more likely to crack even under normal loads. A second formidable enemy of your asphalt is the petroleum-based fluids that vehicles can leak while parked on or driving across your pavement. These fluids will soften the pavement by breaking down the asphalt binder, resulting in spots that can crumble when tires roll across them. Soft spots can allow water to pool within them, and they can quickly turn into potholes. Quality sealants block UV rays, help make the pavement more resistant to water, and delay the progression of vehicle fluids.

When Should I Sealcoat My Asphalt Pavement?

When asphalt companies construct a new pavement, they usually recommend that you delay sealcoating until the pavement is fully cured. Depending on the weather and other circumstances, this could be three months, but it could be a year. Asphalt paving contractors do not recommend that you delay your initial application for more than a year. After that, you should consult a reputable asphalt maintenance contractor to determine the appropriate schedule for subsequent applications. Your asphalt contractor will evaluate the loading and other factors specific to your pavement. In general, pavements that receive high volumes of traffic will need fresh applications more often than pavements that receive relatively little traffic. The weight of the traffic also plays a role. For example, a pedestrian walkway will not need to be sealed as frequently as a golf cart trail, and a parking lot for passenger cars will not need to be sealed as frequently as a lot that serves heavy equipment or tractor-trailers. The average Orange County parking lot needs to be sealed about every 18 months. Still, only your parking lot maintenance contractor can provide you with an accurate schedule for your specific pavement.

How Long Will It Take to Seal My Asphalt Pavement?

The scope of the job determines how long the entire project will take. If you have a small parking lot, for example, most asphalt maintenance contractors can apply two coats of sealant and stripe your lot in a single workday. However, if you have a large parking lot, you may want your contractor to divide the area into sections so that you do not need to close your lot entirely. Depending on other factors, this will likely extend the total time of the project, but you should be able to reopen each section within 24 hours.

For Superior Asphalt Sealing in Orange County, Contact Peterson Grading & Paving

Peterson Grading & Paving is the leading company for asphalt maintenance in Orange County, and we have a stellar reputation for high-quality work. Our services include sealcoating, asphalt crack sealing and filling, asphalt paving, asphalt resurfacing, concrete installation, asphalt milling, parking lot striping, asphalt repairs, bollard installation, ADA compliance, warehouse striping, shot blasting, parking lot signage, and marking removal. Our clients include hotels, educational facilities, homeowner associations, religious institutions, condos, facility managers, retail establishments, and property management firms. You can request a free quote today by submitting the online form. If you prefer, you can send an email to Ryan@GradePave.com, or you can call 949-402-6979.