Have you recently renovated your property and gotten a fresh asphalt driveway installed? Asphalt driveways are the most popular choice in the US and tend to be easy on the pocket. However, maintaining an asphalt driveway from daily wear and tear is a tricky task. If left neglected, it can lead to hefty maintenance costs.
The Process of Seal Coating
Seal coating involves applying liquid sealants that consist of binders, fillers, tar, and emulsified asphalt to existing driveways and pavements. This process also helps in filling in minor cracks that may have come about due to oxidation.
Depending on the state of the driveway, several layers may be applied with different drying intervals. Finally, the sealant is allowed to dry for at least 48 hours before traffic can resume.
Different Types of Seal Coating
The most commonly used types of sealers are:
- Coal tar sealers
- Asphalt emulsion sealers
Coal Tar Sealers
Sealants made up of tar are cheaper but require more effort to apply. The tar sealers are an ideal choice for property owners who are concerned about chemical and oil spills.
Asphalt Emulsion Sealers
These can be easily applied, saving time and effort. Asphalt emulsion sealcoating is more eco-friendly since it emits lesser volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as compared with tar-based sealers.
What Is the Ideal Time of Year to Seal Coat Your Asphalt Driveway?
Asphalt driveways should be seal coated during the summers since the sealants can be locked in perfectly under intense sunlight.
Although summers are not necessarily the only time for sealcoating, temperature and humidity levels should be considered before application. Many people also prefer to seal coat their driveways in September and October to prepare their driveways for the colder and freezing climate of the coming months.
Why is Asphalt Curing Crucial?
Asphalt contains various volatile compounds and oils to make it more malleable for driveways. The blacktop of your driveway will remain soft until the oils and volatile compounds do not reasonably evaporate or harden.
The driveways should be left to oxidize enough so that there is not much oil in the driveway to begin with. The process of allowing the asphalt to dry and oxidize is known as curing.
How Long Should the Driveway Be Left to Cure?
It is advised to be patient and let the driveway gradually cure under normal weather conditions. The ideal timeframe for asphalt curing for commercial driveways is 30 days, while homeowners should wait for 90 days before they opt for sealcoating.
Sealcoating should never be delayed, and neither should it be done before the curing time is complete.
Your driveway should be promptly seal coated once the asphalt has cured enough to retain the optimum amount of oil in it. You can get your driveway seal coated this summer with Proline Parking Lot Maintenance, Inc, in Denver, NC.
