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Fall is the best time of the year for sealcoating, because the temperatures are ideal. If you don’t know what sealcoating is exactly, we’ll explain. Sealcoating is preventative maintenance for your driveway or parking lot. Think of it like a paint coat on your house or a stain on your deck—it’s there to protect what’s underneath. A properly applied sealcoat layer acts as a moisture barrier that keeps water and ice from aging your pavement. It fills small cracks and holes that can become large cracks and holes if left alone. If you’ve been asking yourself, “why should I have my pavement seal coated,” here’s your answer.
While the driveway might be an afterthought when it comes to maintenance, it shouldn’t be. Asphalt is a mixture of rocks, oil, and binders, but it still needs some attention. Having a protective sealcoating layer put on the pavement will help it last longer. The sealer protects from harmful UV rays, snow and ice, water, and whatever else the environment can throw at it. Leaving cracks exposed allows water to seep into and underneath the pavement. When that happens and the weather turns cold, the water will become ice and cause the driveway to heave. Heaving is when parts of the pavement raise and create high spots. Eventually, the pavement will crack, crumble, and need replacing.
Asphalt has poor resistance to sunlight and UV rays. Because of this, it deteriorates from oxidation—exposure to air and sun—as soon as it’s installed. Asphalt is loaded with oils that are necessary for the construction of the driveway, parking lot, or road. It’s important for some of those oils to evaporate and escape; it makes the pavement stronger. But if too much of them oxidize out, the pavement becomes brittle and susceptible to cracking. Annual sealcoating helps restore those oils and prevent oxidation.
Your driveway or parking lot is like the welcome mat for your property; it’s right out front and everyone steps on it. A fresh sealcoat layer makes your driveway look brand new and tells all visitors that you care about what you present to the world. It creates a smooth surface that looks great in front of your home or business and increases curb appeal. That is one of the main reasons people sealcoat every year or two and why professionals only use high-quality sealcoating equipment.
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Having to repave or resurface an asphalt driveway or parking lot is an expense that most people don’t save for. Doing either one of those is a sizable expense that you can avoid if you follow some basic asphalt maintenance tips. Stay ahead of damage and wear by setting up a maintenance schedule so your pavement lasts longer. Doing a few small things regularly will squeeze many extra years out of your driveway—and save you money. If you don’t have the proper asphalt repair products needed to do this work, there are professionals available to do the work for you. For larger jobs, that might be the best course of action.
