The Many Benefits of Asphalt Sealcoating

You invest a lot into keeping your property looking its best, including your asphalt driveway. One of the best things you can do to protect your asphalt is to have seal coating applied.

If you’re hoping to keep your driveway or parking lot strong and beautiful, it’s recommended you apply seal coating every few years. It can extend the life and look of your asphalt and protect it from damage.

Let’s look at the many benefits of asphalt seal coating.

What is seal coating and how does it work?

Sealcoating is a thin liquid layer that is applied to your paved surface. It cannot fix the damage or imperfections already present in your pavement but using asphalt seal coating after you’ve had a new driveway or parking lot installed can extend the life of your paving.

Asphalt is an oil-based material, which makes it waterproof and flexible. It also ensures the asphalt is adhesive enough to hold the aggregate together. And it’s that strength that makes it an ideal material for paving driveways, walkways, parking lots, and more. But asphalt can also break down as it is exposed to air, sun, weather, and traffic. You’ll first notice the beautiful black colour will turn grey. That could be followed by the appearance of small hairline cracks. These cracks can allow water and other elements to seep in and under the asphalt. And this is when serious damage can occur. You’ll notice the integrity of your paving will start to fail. Alligator-type cracking will appear and then come the potholes.

Applying seal coating adds an extra layer of protection on top of your asphalt paving. It is one of the most effective and affordable ways to keep your asphalt like new.

Benefits of seal coating

Asphalt is one of the strongest and most durable materials you can use for paving projects. However, it can still become damaged and worn. That’s why applying seal coating is highly recommended by professional pavers, including Black Tar, as one of the key ways to maintain your asphalt. Here are the benefits you’ll experience after seal coating your asphalt.

Protection from water damage

Water can cause significant damage to your asphalt. It can seep in through the tiniest cracks. That water will freeze and expand when the temperature drops. It will then melt into water during the day when the temperature rises. This can happen over and over again, particularly in the winter months. This freeze/thaw cycle can put a lot of pressure on your asphalt. It can lead to further cracks, allowing more water to seep in. This water will continue the freeze/thaw cycle, causing pressure on your asphalt leading to bigger cracks and holes in your paving. But if you’ve applied seal coating, it will protect your asphalt paving. You’ll then have peace of mind whether it rains or snows.

Avoid damage from spills

Driveways and parking lots see a lot of traffic. It’s only natural that spills will occur in these areas. Some of the spills can cause damage to your asphalt, such as oil, grease, or other chemical substances. Over time, these spills can corrupt the stability of your asphalt paving. Regularly applying seal coating can help you protect your paving investment. With asphalt seal coating, spills won’t be able to penetrate the material can cause damage. Moreover, seal coating can prevent spills from leaving unsightly stains on your asphalt.

Slow deterioration

Exposure to the air and the sun causes oxidation in asphalt paving. It turns the material brittle, allowing cracks and other damage to occur faster. When you apply asphalt seal coating, you give it an extra layer of protection against the damage that oxidation causes. While you cannot ultimately prevent it, seal coating your asphalt can slow the deterioration process.

Maintain your paving appearance

There is nothing like a newly paved asphalt surface. It enhances your property and can boost your home or office’s curb appeal when you sell. But over time, all freshly paved surfaces can succumb to wear and tear. Without seal coating, your driveway or parking lot will start to look less new and appealing. Asphalt seal coating can help you maintain the unique and beautiful look of freshly paved asphalt. Consider it an investment in your property and one that saves you from having to install new paving every few years.

Enhances traction and flexibility of asphalt

Asphalt offers lots of advantages as a paving material. One is the tiny sand-size particles that prevent tires from skidding on the pavement. Without asphalt seal coating, these particles can wear away quickly. Sealcoating can prevent that from happening and actually lock those particles in, providing extra traction to your driveway or parking lot.

Flexibility refers to the way that asphalt handles the weight of vehicles. It can handle several vehicles because of its ability to flex underweight. However, without asphalt seal coating, the material will start to get brittle. This reduces the ability of your asphalt paving to flex under the weight of vehicles. The result is cracks caused by the weight of traffic. Applying asphalt seal coating can help your paving to maintain its flexibility. In other words, it can extend the useful life of your paving.

Extend the life of your asphalt paving

You’ve invested into your asphalt paving, and you can protect that investment and prolong the life of your paving by applying asphalt seal coating. It will provide your asphalt paving protection against damage and the decay that age can bring. Additionally, it can save you money as you won’t have to pay for so much repair to your asphalt. You can avoid the cost and hassle of resurfacing or repaving your driveway or parking lot every few years.

Makes cleaning easier

Keeping your parking lot or driveway clean can be a chore, but if you’ve applied asphalt seal coating, the job can be easier. The extra layer allows you to move a broom over the surface smoothly. It can save you time and help you keep your asphalt paving looking its best.

Let Black Tar help you keep your asphalt paving looking like new. Contact us today about our asphalt sealcoating services.