Seal Coat for your Asphalt Driveway or Parking Lot Increases Pavement Life Span

Seal Coating Saves You Money!

An asphalt driveway or parking lot is comprised of rock, sand, and asphalt, which is a binding glue that holds the rock and sand together. A properly constructed driveway has a lifespan of 15-25 years if it is appropriately maintained.

As with aging paint on a house, many environmental factors cause asphalt to break down. Sun, wind, salt, snow plow blades, heat, and cold all work in concert to deteriorate asphalt. The reasoning behind seal coating your driveway is to prevent essentials oils in the asphalt from evaporating, causing it to become dry and brittle (oxidization). When asphalt becomes dry and brittle, it will crack. Cracking leads to water penetrating the surface, causing expansion and contraction, thus eroding the sub base of your surface which allows the surface to crack further. Cracks need to be addressed before they compromise an entire area of pavement, leading to a costly repair.

Seal Coat acts as a flexible barrier coating, increasing the life span of your investment. Asphalt has the same chemical makeup as oil and gasoline, therefore, as oil and gasoline is deposited on the pavement surface during normal usage, the asphalt is attracted to them, and will bond with them, causing the asphalt to crack and break down. A coal tar sealant must be applied every 2-3 years to prevent damage from oil. Oil spots on driveways or parking lots need to be treated with Tarlock prior to seal coating, or the oil will bleed through the seal coat and deterioration will continue to happen. Outstanding surface preparation is required in order for the materials to seal properly.

Coal tar sealants are flexible and move with the pavement as it expands and contracts. Coal tar sealants not only enhance the appearance of asphalt, they prevent oxidization, cracks, and erosion of the sub base and surfaces. Sealants are mixed with emulsifiers and silica sand in order to provide traction, flexibility, and curbside appeal. Unlike sealants purchased at home improvement stores, professional coal tar sealants will not track into house, are clay based, do not freeze, and do not chip away. The molecular structure of coal tar sealants are maintained during hot and cold temperatures. All of the above attributes lead to coal tar sealants being the only type of sealant utilized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

All sealants should be housed in a cylindrical container so the mixture of sealer, silica sand, and emulsifiers can be properly agitated, ensuring the mixture is always consistent. The Sommerset Paving machine applies all sealer. Machine application leads to a more even application, even wear, allows a greater amount of sealer to be applied, and guarantees the product is properly agitated.

New pavement should cure for 1 year prior to applying seal coat.

Sommerset Paving offers a 2 year guarantee on residential driveways and a 1 year guarantee on commercial work. The key to our quality is surface preparation and our proprietary mix design.