Driveways and parking lots constructed using asphaltic hot mix need to be protected from manmade and environmental factors. While asphaltic pavements can last for many years, they need to be treated on the surfaces to prevent premature damages. With seal coating contractors, they assist in applying a layer of sealant products to preserve the look and quality of driveways. Once you have laid down pavements, the blacktop begins to age, and with time, it will show defects.
Initially, the cracks are small appearing as tiny hairline cracks. However, as time goes, the minute cracks will widen and deepen. The moment you notice a change in color of driveway blacktop from the black hue to a faded grey shade, you should realize that it is time to sealcoat it. A sealant is meant to preserve the quality as well as flexibility of blacktop.
The sealants help enhance flexibility thus allowing your driveways to withstand changes in temperature. Water also infiltrates pavements and causes the material underneath blacktop to loosen up. If you allow water to enter sub base of pavements, it will trigger shifting of the material and cause cracks. Besides, water expands when it freezes inside cracks thus widening them.
In the freeze thaw cycles, the frozen water will melt down and leave voids within the sub base. The blacktop collapses and fills the empty spaces. One way in which you can prevent water from entering sub base of asphaltic pavements is to apply sealants. Snow is also damaging to pavements. It may cause the binders to weaken and after the winter, you may experience problems like cracks and potholes.
With the heavy weight from vehicles, you may have sections of road developing depressions. The same water can remain trapped inside and during winter, it freezes and expands. The expanding frozen water will enlarge cracks. As the freeze-thaw cycle ends, the frozen water will melt down and leave empty cracks under blacktop.
If your driveways are located in areas with trees, they are shaded meaning that UV light does not degrade the sealcoats fast. Before applying sealcoating products, you need to make sure all defects are restored. When you put the sealant on top of cracks, they will only mask the problems. Within a short time, the crack will open up as the sealants wears out.
You need to ensure the coat is applied at the right time. Initially, when you have installed new pavements, you will have to allow them cure properly. The light hydrocarbons should be allowed to dry and it may take a couple of months or even a year. During this time, you may not need to apply sealcoats.
Besides, sealcoats ought to be put when oils from a newly installed pavement have dried. When you have installed new driveways, the blacktop has light hydrocarbons. This is not the right time to apply sealants. You should wait until those oils have dried completely. It may take about 6 months to one year for such oils to dry. The first coating will be done once the pavements have cured properly. Asphaltic driveways should be sealcoated using sealants after every 3 to 5 years after the first coating.
Initially, the cracks are small appearing as tiny hairline cracks. However, as time goes, the minute cracks will widen and deepen. The moment you notice a change in color of driveway blacktop from the black hue to a faded grey shade, you should realize that it is time to sealcoat it. A sealant is meant to preserve the quality as well as flexibility of blacktop.
The sealants help enhance flexibility thus allowing your driveways to withstand changes in temperature. Water also infiltrates pavements and causes the material underneath blacktop to loosen up. If you allow water to enter sub base of pavements, it will trigger shifting of the material and cause cracks. Besides, water expands when it freezes inside cracks thus widening them.
In the freeze thaw cycles, the frozen water will melt down and leave voids within the sub base. The blacktop collapses and fills the empty spaces. One way in which you can prevent water from entering sub base of asphaltic pavements is to apply sealants. Snow is also damaging to pavements. It may cause the binders to weaken and after the winter, you may experience problems like cracks and potholes.
With the heavy weight from vehicles, you may have sections of road developing depressions. The same water can remain trapped inside and during winter, it freezes and expands. The expanding frozen water will enlarge cracks. As the freeze-thaw cycle ends, the frozen water will melt down and leave empty cracks under blacktop.
If your driveways are located in areas with trees, they are shaded meaning that UV light does not degrade the sealcoats fast. Before applying sealcoating products, you need to make sure all defects are restored. When you put the sealant on top of cracks, they will only mask the problems. Within a short time, the crack will open up as the sealants wears out.
You need to ensure the coat is applied at the right time. Initially, when you have installed new pavements, you will have to allow them cure properly. The light hydrocarbons should be allowed to dry and it may take a couple of months or even a year. During this time, you may not need to apply sealcoats.
Besides, sealcoats ought to be put when oils from a newly installed pavement have dried. When you have installed new driveways, the blacktop has light hydrocarbons. This is not the right time to apply sealants. You should wait until those oils have dried completely. It may take about 6 months to one year for such oils to dry. The first coating will be done once the pavements have cured properly. Asphaltic driveways should be sealcoated using sealants after every 3 to 5 years after the first coating.
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