The parking lot is a vital part of any commercial property, as it’s how your employees and your customers get to your business. Most commercial property owners know that they need to regularly maintain their asphalt to keep it attractive and protect visitors. There are many different repairs that professionals can perform on a parking lot, such as crack filling, pothole patching, surface milling, or sealcoating. These repairs can create a beautiful black surface that’s smooth and safe. One of the most affordable asphalt maintenance options is sealcoating; let’s learn more about it.
What is Asphalt Sealcoating?
Many people think that you pour hot mix asphalt over gravel and that’s it, you have a parking lot. Nothing could be further from the truth. To put it simply, asphalt is made up of gravel, called aggregate, suspended in a substance called asphalt cement that is made of crude oils. These oils are what’s vulnerable to weathering and UV rays, and they can break down over time. A coating called a “seal coat,” when applied over cured asphalt, provides a layer of protection from the elements, extending the life of your parking lot.
When to Sealcoat Your Parking Lot
The very first sealcoat needs to be applied right after installation, though professionals know that the asphalt needs time to cure, or harden, first. Once the curing is complete, a sealcoat provides vital protection and creates a smooth, jet black surface. Without a sealcoat, most asphalt parking lots only last a decade. Sealcoating should also be applied after any crack filling or asphalt repairs to seal in the work. Regular parking lot maintenance should happen every three years or so, and this includes a sealcoat. High traffic areas like drive throughs should probably get sealcoating more often, and possibly even more than one coat at a time. To find out when your parking lot needs a sealcoat, contact the asphalt experts at Finley Asphalt & Concrete!
