Manufacturing Tips, News, & More

If you want to have your asphalt seal coated this summer, take a close look at the surface. There's a good chance that your asphalt isn't prepared for seal coating. Unfortunately, if your asphalt isn't prepared, the seal coat application might fail. That's why you need to prepare your asphalt before you schedule the seal coating. Here are four situations that could undermine the durability of your seal coating. 

Your Asphalt Looks Powdery

If your asphalt looks powdery, take a close look at the color. If the surface of your asphalt is covered with a white powder, you're dealing with oxidation. Unfortunately, oxidation can prevent your asphalt from bonding with the seal coating. To ensure proper bonding, you'll need to prepare the surface. You can do that by applying a coat of primer to the asphalt. Once the primer is dry, you can apply a seal coat to your asphalt. The primer will prevent the oxidation from destroying your seal coat. 

Your Asphalt Wasn't Properly Cleaned

If you plan to apply a seal coat to your asphalt, you need to start with a clean surface. Without proper cleaning, the seal coating won't stick to the asphalt. You might think that rinsing the surface with water will get the asphalt clean enough, but that's not the case. There are some substances that need extra attention. These include oily substances, loose gravel, and tree sap. Oily substances and tree sap can be removed using a grease-cutting detergent. Loose gravel can be swept away using a stiff-bristled broom. Taking these steps will prepare your asphalt for seal coating. 

Your Asphalt Has Surface Damage

If you need to apply seal coating to your asphalt, you might think you can ignore the surface damage. But, that's not the case. Even small cracks can undermine the bonding process. Not only that, but those cracks can cause the seal coat to peel. If you want to extend the life of your seal coating, you need to repair the surface damage before you apply the seal coat material. 

Your Asphalt Isn't Weathered Enough

If you have a new asphalt surface, you might want to wait for the seal coating. If you're like most people, you might think you should apply seal coating as soon as your asphalt cures. That's not necessarily the case though. In most cases, your new asphalt will have a thin layer of oil on the surface. If you apply seal coating while the oil is still there, you won't get the protection you need. Not only that, but you'll need to apply a fresh coat of seal coating sooner than you'd expect. To ensure adequate bonding, let your asphalt get weathered before you apply the seal coating.

Contact a local asphalt sealing company, such as EnviroSealers LLC, to learn more.