Sealcoating
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What Is Sealcoating?
Sealcoating is an asphalt maintenance process of sealing and protecting asphalt surfaces from oxidation, moisture, fading and erosion. Sealcoating is critical to the integrity of asphalt surfaces, and is the best way to maintain your parking lot.
Sealcoating is one of the most important elements in a pavement management plan, because sealcoating:
Protects paved surfaces against the scourge of chemicals, snow salt, water and ultraviolet rays;
Minimizes exposure to oxygen and UV rays;
Ensures the longevity of asphalt surfaces, and
Improves the visual aesthetic of the pavement and the property it covers.
What Is Sealcoating Made Of?
No matter how good your asphalt is, it’s still vulnerable to cracks and holes. In fact, it can even look dull, faded, and really old in just a few months.
That’s where Sealcoating comes in.
Sealcoat is a mixture of liquids and small particles like sand which acts as a protective film for the asphalt pavement. It is used to protect the asphalt from being exposed to damage-causing elements such as air, water, chemical spills, and even excessive UV rays from the sun. This keeps the risk of developing cracks and holes to a minimum.
At the same time, sealcoat can also give your pavement a stunning dark black appearance, while keeping it from being slippery.
4 Major Sealcoat Ingredient
There are two types of sealcoats that are being used in today’s pavements. But before we get to that, let’s first take a look at the four major ingredients used in producing sealcoats.
Binder
It is the key ingredient of any sealcoating compositions and is responsible for binding all the other ingredients together, providing asphalt surface protection, the deep black appearance, and binding the sealcoat mix to the asphalt pavement.
Clay, Fillers, and Aggregates
These ingredients provide toughness, tensile strength, and dimensional stability to the mix. It also serves in reducing the tackiness of the binder so that the surface will be functional even with elevated surface temperature.
Water
Water is the medium in which all the other ingredients stay dispersed. It satisfies the “water demand” of the fillers/aggregate such as sand. It’s also responsible for the sealcoat’s fluidity resulting in easy application, storage, and handling.
Additives
There are a variety of additives that can be used in a sealcoat mix, and they serve different purposes. Some additives may help in drying the sealcoat fast, altering sand suspension, increasing water repellency, improving flexibility, or adding resistance to salts and petrochemicals.
Two Types of Sealcoat
There are two main types of sealcoat, and they differ in the type of binder they use.
Refined Coal Tar Based Sealcoating
Refined Coal Tar (RTS) is the thick black liquid that is a byproduct of the distillation of bituminous coal.
This type of binder is composed of thousands of chemicals and has a different molecular structure than asphalt. It is not affected by the destructive elements of weather, the sun’s UV rays, salts, oil, gasoline, fats, and other petrochemicals.
Refined Coal Tar was introduced in the 1950s and has been the industry’s most commonly used sealcoating binder until recently.
Asphalt Emulsion Based Sealcoating
The main ingredient of Asphalt Emulsion Based Sealcoating (AE) is asphalt cement which is derived from the same oils and materials used in producing asphalt.
AE is known to lack resistance to petrochemicals such as gasoline and oil due to being a petroleum derivative and having a natural tendency to be dissolved with them.
However, it has gained popularity due to its superiority in maintaining surface integrity to asphalt pavement, preventing cracks from occurring. Since its inception, AE’s overall performance has been improved by adding chemicals and specialty rubber polymers.
Which Type Of Sealcoat Should I Choose?
Choosing the appropriate sealcoat for your specific needs is crucial in prolonging the life of your asphalt pavement. When done right, it can prolong the lifespan of your asphalt at a fraction of the cost of new pavement. Otherwise, it can be a wasted expense that can do more harm than good.
That’s why if you’re planning to have your asphalt sealcoated, get help from the experts.
We at Calside Paving have been the leading asphalt contractor in San Diego, and we have helped countless customers pick and apply the best sealcoat option for their unique needs.
We can help you, too!
Contact us today for a quote today!
What Does Sealcoating Do?
A sealcoat is applied to asphalt surfaces as a preventative measure to protect the paved surface from gasoline, salt, water, ultraviolet rays and oil – all substances which erode and damage asphalt. The sealcoating acts like a barrier, filling in any small cracks or areas where moisture seeps in, and preserving the structural integrity of your asphalt. Sealcoating also provides a fresh, new appearance and improves the aesthetic of the entire property. Of the many benefits of sealcoating your pavement, there are three that stand out as especially beneficial to business.
Benefits Of Sealcoating
Beautification – When covered with a dark black sealant, pavement looks and wears like new. Fresh sealcoating also projects a positive image of the company, facility, or residential complex.
Protection – The value of protecting your parking lot from cracking, fading and erosion can not be overstated. Beyond the aesthetic value, protecting your pavement from weather, water, and regular wear and tear is the best way to avoid the cost of a full pavement replacement.
Longevity – Sealcoating as a part of regular pavement maintenance is the best way to ensure the integrity, longevity and value of your pavement. Like any property investment, the more you care for your pavement, the less it costs to maintain over time.
Why Choose Calside Paving for Seal Coating?
Sealcoating improves the integrity, longevity and aesthetic of any paved surface, but only if it’s done correctly. With more than 10+ years of experience as the premium paving contractor in San Diego, there is no one more prepared or better qualified to sealcoat your parking lot or any other asphalt surface.
Contact our dedicated sales team today to schedule a consultation. Whether you need a new layer of sealcoating, lot marking or a brand new parking lot, Calside Paving is your go-to expert on all things paving, asphalt, sealing coating and more.
Calside Paving hires and trains the best paving contractors in Ramona, Poway, Valley Center, Carlsbad, Delmar, Encinitas, Escondido, Fallbrook, Oceanside, Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego, San Marcos, Vista, CA and the surrounding suburban areas. We take pride in completing only the top asphalt paving services, and consistently look forward to working with new clients.