Your asphalt pavement has potholes or cracks?
Houston’s excessive summer heat, rain and humidity takes a toll. Aside from the obvious damage caused by leaking fluids, parking lot vehicles can also cause asphalt destruction.
Asphalt that is not properly sealed can cause oxidation, which dries the asphalt binder. This can cause asphalt to lose its flexibility and crack. When the asphalt surface is exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet energy, oxidation occurs. This accelerates erosion, reduces asphalt thickness, and the pavement should be resurfaced in a matter a few more years.
As oxidation progresses, pollutants, chemicals and rain seep into the cracks. Pavement degradation accelerates. Once this process begins, the damage has already occurred.
Sealcoating asphalt protects it from weather extremes and oxidation. This sealcoat will improve the appearance and extend the pavement’s lifespan. Sealcoating protects asphalt from deterioration and can be used to restore its original color.
If you look at untreated asphalt and treated asphalt cross-sections, you’ll see the difference a sealcoat makes.The seal pavement provides a smoother surface that makes sweeping and maintenance much easier. The durability of asphalt pavement against the damaging effects from oil, gas, and chemical chemicals is crucial.
What does asphalt look like?
Asphalt pavement is made from a mixture of crushed stones (known as aggregates), and chemical binders that glue the mixture together. The sun’s ultraviolet rays eventually break down the binding material, allowing moisture in the cracks to fill them. These voids then allow for the pavement to expand or contract, which can lead to the pavement losing its integrity. This is especially evident when pavements change from black to a dull grey. The binding materials gradually weaken as the pavement changes from black to dull gray. Eventually, visible cracks and even potholes are formed.
What does sealcoating do?
Sealcoating slows down the process of asphalt binders being removed from the pavement. It’s also able to prevent premature pavement wearing. Sealcoating is a smart investment when you need to apply new asphalt pavement or repair existing ones.
How is sealcoating applied
The pavement surface is first swept. Any cracks or visible potholes are then cleaned and filled. To ensure the correct thickness, the sealcoat can be applied using a sprayer. A high-quality sealcoat contains the right amount of additives, fine sand and aggregates to make it more durable and slip-resistant. To prolong pavement service life, we recommend a second coat for roadways and other high-volume traffic areas.
Cracks must be filled, as they can expand and cause others to form. Rubberized hot crack material can be used to fill cracks. We recommend that pedestrians, and vehicles, be kept off the roadways until all pavement materials are fully dried.