Wednesday, 4 February 2015

When To Apply A Seal Coating Procedure On Asphalt Pavements

By Ines Flores


After installing your asphalt pavements, you need to inspect them regularly to detect any defects that may be developing. Asphalt is a common material used when constructing pavements. Like many other paving materials, asphalt undergoes degradation with time. In order to preserve its quality, you should coat it with a sealant material. A seal coating procedure is intended to prolong the lifespan of your pavement.

A coal tar emulsion is applied over asphalt to prevent damaging effects caused by UV light, moisture, and gasoline products. A sealcoat provides the same effects as sunscreen on skin or wood varnish on wood since it slows down the destruction of the surface. The sealant material will also make your pavement look like new. Ultraviolet light acts on asphalt making it to harden and become frail. With constant exposure to UV light, the pavements will begin to unravel.

You can recondition it using a sealant material. The sealcoat will make your pavements to be flexible and look like new. Due to effects of UV light, pavements will crack. The first tiny hairline cracks may not be a problem and they can be corrected easily with use of a sealcoat. However, when you leave the blacktop unprotected, the fine cracks will worsen and develop to bigger cracks.

A sealcoat will enhance the flexibility of asphalt. In order for asphalt to withstand the weight of vehicles, it needs to expand and contract. Besides, the expansion and contraction caused by changes in weather will be counteracted by the flexibility of pavements. If it is rigid, it will not allow for such expansion and contractions. One way to improve flexibility is by applying sealcoats.

As UV light bakes pavements, it causes cracks. The first signs that will show that you need a sealcoat applied on your pavements is change in color. Due to the effects of sunlight, the pavements will turn from the rich black color to a grayish appearance. If you notice your pavements have changed in color, consider applying a sealant.

Another sign you should look for is development of small fine hairline cracks. These are usually not easily visible and do not cause a lot of trouble. But if they are not restored, they will pave way for bigger cracks. The small fine hairlines cracking can be corrected using a sealant. But sealcoats are not meant to serve as repair materials. Sealcoats are designed to preserve pavements.

Sealcoats should only be applied when asphalt has dried and cured properly. In the first driveway or parking lot installation, it will take time for the asphalt to cure. You may have to wait for about one year before you apply a sealant. After the first sealcoating, you will also need to apply other coats with time.

It will take about two to five years before you apply a sealcoat material but this is largely determined by the rate at which the existing sealant wears out. Proper timing is required so that sealcoats are applied in time. When consulting with contractors to sealcoat pavements, ensure they use quality materials that do not wear out fast. This way, the coats will last for long and offer the protection needed for the pavements.




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