Sealer is a black liquid that is sprayed or brushed on asphalt pavement to protect and beautify the asphalt. Most sealcoat products are coal-tar or asphalt based. Many coal-tar sealcoat products contain as much as 30 percent coal tar by weight.
What is sealcoating?
Sealcoating is the process of applying a coal tar emulsion over an asphalt pavement to prevent oxidation damage and prolong the life of a new and old structurally sound asphalt pavement.
Where is sealcoat used?
Sealcoat is used anywhere that asphalt has been laid. It commonly is applied to parking lots associated with commercial businesses (including strip malls and shopping centers); apartment and condominium complexes; churches, schools, and business parks and on residential driveways. Two kinds of sealcoat products are widely used: coal-tar-emulsion based products and asphalt-emulsion based products.
Why should I have my pavement sealcoated?
Not only does sealcoat protect and extend the life of your asphalt, it also enhances the visual appearance and increases the value of your property. Besides making your pavement look brand new again, pavement sealer protects asphalt pavements from the destructive elements of weather, gas, oil, anti-freeze and many other chemicals that could deteriorate the asphalt.
How soon can new pavements be sealcoated?
Newly paved asphalt surfaces should not be sealcoated until they have had sufficient time to cure. Curing allows the excess oils that are always present in new asphalt pavements to diminish through a process called oxidation. This process can take as little as 30 days or as much as 90 days depending on the percentage of oil present in the new pavement.
How long should I stay off of the new coating?
The amount of time it takes for pavement sealer to completely dry depends on the temperature and humidity conditions. The drying time can be as little as 30 minutes under warm, dry conditions or as long as several hours in cool temperatures with high humidity. We usually recommend staying off a newly sealcoated surface for 24 hours.
What time of the year can Sealcoating be done?
Starting in the spring when temperatures are expected to remain above 50 degrees F and ending in the fall, when the temps are consistently below 50 degrees F.