Sealcoating Research Paper

Many people who have seen asphalt pavement soon after its installation praise the pavement's smooth finish and depth of color. As the years pass, however, the pavement can begin to show signs of damage from the weather or traffic. If the pavement has been protected by sealcoating and received timely repairs, the evidence of aging may not become noticeable for 10 or 15 years. However, if repairs have been ignored and sealcoating has not been maintained, the pavement may appear antiquated within five or six years. Regardless of the pavement's chronological age and maintenance history, the time will come when the property owner decides that something needs to be done. At this point, the question of whether "something" means paving or sealcoating

often arises.

What Sealcoating Can Do
If your asphalt pavement has faded to an unattractive brown or gray, sealcoating can usually return the pavement's color to the deep black shade that it had when it was new.

Sealcoating can also cover minor surface flaws to give the pavement a smoother, more even appearance. However, sealcoating offers more than just cosmetic benefits. Sealcoating blocks the ultraviolet radiation that causes asphalt pavement to lose its color as well as its moisture. Dry asphalt pavement becomes inflexible and easily damaged. In addition, sealcoating provides a protective barrier between your pavement and petroleum-based automotive fluids that can lead to premature deterioration of asphalt pavement.

What Sealcoating Cannot Do

Sealcoating is not intended to repair damage to asphalt pavement. If cracks or other damage is present, the damages must be repaired before the pavement is sealed. Sealcoating will not protect your pavement forever; new sealcoating will need to be applied periodically to ensure adequate protection. Sealcoating will not halt the progress of automotive fluids indefinitely, so oil, gas and other spills still need to be cleaned once or twice a year. If heavier vehicles than the pavement was designed for begin parking on or driving across the pavement, sealcoating cannot prevent the damage that they may cause.

When Paving Is

Necessary
If you believe that you may need paving rather than sealcoating, your first step should be to ask a reliable asphalt contractor to inspect your pavement. It is often possible to perform infrared patching or repave just the areas that show the most damage, saving you a substantial amount of money. Another option might be an asphalt overlay, which is a new layer of asphalt that is applied to existing pavement after cracks, potholes and other damages have been repaired. Overlays essentially restart the clock on the pavement's aging process and have the same appearance as new asphalt pavement. Overlays can be installed on concrete or asphalt pavement that has not incurred significant destabilization of the pavement's base and subbase. Tearing out your existing pavement and having it completely reconstructed should always be your last option. Unfortunately, some property owners choose this option when simply having damages repaired and the pavement sealcoated could have given them many more years of service.

Let Driveway Sealing Call Frank Advise You
At Driveway Sealing Call Frank, we provide asphalt maintenance and repair to homeowners as well as commercial property owners and managers. We would be happy to provide with advice on whether sealcoating can solve your pavement issues or repaving is the solution you should choose. Our services include sealcoating, crack repair, infrared asphalt repair and parking lot striping. We also offer an extensive range of concrete services. We have built our business on integrity, quality work and true professionalism. If you would like to receive a free estimate, you can submit the quote request form online or call us at [phone] or 1-800-DRIVEWAY.