Asphalt Maintenance FAQs

Black Tar uses the highest quality sealing product (BlackMac UN1999) and applies a specific quantity based on your asphalt specifications. Adding the correct amount is vital to restoring the asphalt to the optimal elasticity rate to minimize cracking and corrosion. Unfortunately, it is common in the industry for contractors to use the wrong sealant, dilute their product (due to rising costs), and/or only apply less (one coat instead of four) of the required material.

Think of 'tar to asphalt' as 'oil to a car engine"... putting the right oil in your engine is just as important as putting the right sealant on your asphalt!

Frost is known to cause the ground to expand, causing shifting of the base. This repetitive process hinders the asphalt's ability to flex, hence, starting the cracking process. Furthermore, heat causes tar to oxidize, leaving your asphalt surface dry and brittle over time. Tar is the glue that keeps your asphalt malleable, allowing it to expand and contract with temperature variations, along with shifting and settling of the earth. Maintaining your asphalt with tar restores elasticity and minimizes surface corrosion. An equivalent of four coatings of liquid tar is simultaneously applied to ensure proper quantity and coverage. Our technicians are M.T.O (Ministry of Transportation) certified and carry a T.D.G (Transportation of Dangerous Goods) license. We use the city spec UN1999 Tar Sealant.

UN1999 is a nationwide recognized Tar-based sealant product for asphalt surfaces.

Tar is a black or dark brown viscous liquid of hydrocarbons. Tar helps keep asphalt malleable. This viscous liquid is the critical ingredient in the making of asphalt. Sealing asphalt using Tar keeps your asphalt hydrated, which allows it to easily flex when the base beneath the asphalt reacts to the freezing and thawing cycles.

UN1999 is not available for residential purchase. Consumers can only purchase oil-based, acrylic, and water-based products, all of which are harmful to asphalt. Black Tar Corp. must implement the sealing visit to ensure that the correct product and volume are applied.

The products mentioned above are staining products that change the colour of asphalt; they give the perception of a "New Look,” but they do not contribute to improving or maintaining the health of asphalt. Furthermore, these products have a faster expansion rate than asphalt, resulting in extreme surface cracks over time.

If the defect was to be fixed during the initial visit, then the Asphalt Maintenance Team will be sent back immediately to continue the repair. If it is a "New Defect" or "Recurring Defect"; it will be fixed on your next maintenance visit.

We internally calculate your maintenance cost as if we were quoting a customer for an asphalt maintenance repair. We have an algorithm with standard pricing to ensure fair and consistent pricing with all our project estimators. 

Potholes appear for two main reasons, when cracks are not properly maintained or when the asphalt has an insufficient base. Water penetrates the asphalt and freezes, which causes heaving, dipping, and cracks to expand into potholes.

Heat causes tar to oxidize, leaving your asphalt surface dry and brittle over time, hence, the grey colour. This transition period results in the asphalt settling into a giant grey rock, no longer pliable and easy to work with.

Salt deteriorates the liquid tar on your asphalt and is very corrosive. Black Tar recommends using “Alaskan Ice Melter” since it is less harmful to your asphalt and is environmentally friendly.

The Dip happens when the first foot or two of asphalt that connects to your garage floor starts to sag. This area of your driveway is most likely to experience a dip; the reason this occurs is that heavy machinery is not well suited to compact this small area connecting to your garage floor. We use a ‘Jumping Jack’ which allows for further compaction of that area.

Project Deadline is a calculated date typically occurring at the end of each month where your project should be completed. The dates included in the quote are not final dates but rather the dates we would aim to have your project completed by. If you wish to start/finish your project at a later date than the one mentioned in your quote, please inform your Project Estimator so they can relay that message to our Project Management Team. If you are having more than one project completed by Black Tar Corp. the latest Project Deadline on your Quote(s) will be the date where all the projects will be completed.

Black Tar Construction primarily uses Superpave 12.5, a high-quality asphalt mix commonly used for highways and main roads, ensuring superior durability and performance. However, Black Tar reserves the right to use HL3, which is a comparable asphalt mix, or any other similar-grade asphalt if required to meet project-specific conditions.