A Coating Protects Your Asphalt Driveway And Should Be Applied Every Few Years As Needed
Your asphalt driveway will look better and need fewer repairs if you have a seal coat put on every few years. These coatings are made with a base of coal tar. The coal tar is black, so the coating hides faded asphalt. The coating also protects the asphalt from sun damage. Here are things to know about asphalt seal coating.
Why Asphalt Needs A Protective Coating
When you look at an old asphalt driveway, you probably see a couple of things. One is faded asphalt and the other is damage such as cracks and holes. These problems happen because of the way asphalt ages when exposed to the sun and rain. It's expected for asphalt to age unless the process is slowed down with a coating of tar coal.
The sun dries out the binder in asphalt, and this leads to the deterioration of the asphalt. When cracks develop, rain gets in the cracks, and this causes the damage to escalate, especially in the winter when the rain freezes and expands inside the crack.
The purpose of a seal coat is to protect the asphalt. The coating keeps the sun from breaking down the asphalt and it also keeps rain from seeping into the asphalt to cause more damage. As a bonus, asphalt seal coating restores the dark appearance of your driveway.
Preparation For The Seal Coat Is Important
A seal coat can go on with a squeegee, machine, or spraying. Before that's done, cracks and holes need to be repaired. The coating is thin so it can't make repairs. It's just for protection. The driveway also has to be cleaned.
This might require sweeping with a wire broom, blowing the driveway with air, or pressure washing. All debris and weeds need to be removed or the coating may not stick very well or last as long.
When your driveway is ready, the coating is applied, and the work goes pretty fast. The crew may start along the edges of your driveway and then fill in the middle alternating a squeegee with a machine. If necessary, the crew may mark off the borders so lines are crisp, but that may not be necessary if the borders are done by hand.
The Coating Must Dry Thoroughly After It's Applied
You can't use your driveway for a while after the asphalt seal coating is done. The coating has to dry thoroughly so your car doesn't leave tire marks on the asphalt. The length of time you need to stay off the asphalt depends on the outdoor temperature and humidity, so follow the asphalt contractor's instructions for when you can drive and park on your driveway again.
For more info about seal coating, contact a local company.
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