St. Louis Asphalt Sealing & Striping believes maintenance is the key to return on your asphalt investment. Asphalt sealcoating wraps your parking lot or driveway in a protective layer, effectively locking out damaging moisture and sunlight.
Over time, your jet black asphalt paving will start to break down. The effects of weather, salts and chemicals slowly chisel their way into your beautiful pavement. After several years of being exposed to “the elements”, your once prized surface is smooth and slick especially when wet. These are signs the asphalt binder on the surface has been worn away and must be replenished.
Asphalt sealcoating recoats your parking lot or driveway with fresh aggregate, transforming the worn eyesore back into a beautiful jet-black surface! Typically, sealcoating works best if applied 12-18 months after new, then every 2 years afterward. This maintenance cycle helps to ensure your pavement provides a great looking surface for many years to come!
Asphalt Sealcoating Expectations
While every project is different, here is what to expect when considering asphalt sealcoating:
Dry Time
- Allow 24 hours (12 sunlight hours) before use
- Does it look wet? It is wet! DO NOT USE!
- No cars allowed for 24 full hours
- Give shady areas extra time to dry
- Turn off sprinklers!
Expect
- Car wheels will make marks in the asphalt. This is normal. Do not steer sharply for at least 2 weeks
Edges
- Just like hand painting doesn’t look the same as a roller, you may notice slight variations in the sealcoat around the edges.
Cracks
- If we filled, they won’t completely disappear
- Micro-cracks (less than ¼”) are too small to fill
Oil Stains
- Oil is nasty stuff, sinking deep into the asphalt pavement. We strive to remove as much oil as possible, but cannot guarantee the oil stain will not show without repaving.
Asphalt sealcoating can mean the difference between replacing your asphalt paving in 10 years or 30 years. Asphalt is a wonderful substance, but Mother Nature can wreak havoc on even the best products. Proper maintenance is crucial! Asphalt sealcoating is key!
