Sealcoating an asphalt pavement, driveway or parking lot is done for one main reason – to extend the lifespan of the surface. Considering driveway sealing in Markham is a wise move, as your driveway can deliver many stellar years of service, and the sealcoating contractor will help to reduce the rate of deterioration. All in all, you will find it worthwhile to apply a sealcoat to reduce on maintenance costs.
The value of a site or driveway is optimized by such work done to the asphalt pavement. In addition, you will decrease the limitations of the pavement which has the sealcoat applied over it. As it is well known, the bitumen mixture in most driveway construction is prone to certain limitations as poor compaction, excess voids and poor mix stability. With these weaknesses looming, you will find the sealcoat helpful in the following way:
Slowing down oxidation
Asphalt pavements provide very poor resistance to sunlight and UV rays. This in effect causes the asphalt to deteriorate due to oxidation. Its immediate exposure to the sun is enough to cause such effects as cracking almost immediately it is constructed. The aging of the asphalt pavement is therefore quickened. Anything you can do to reduce the oxidation prolongs the life of such a costly installation.
The secret is to slow down the oxidation before it goes to extensive lengths. According to experts, some oxidation of the asphalt is necessary, since the process involves a whole lot of oils that need oxidizing for the strength of the surface to increase. As the oils are released to the new environment, the surface becomes harder and harder, but if this goes on for too long, the asphalt becomes brittle and may crack very easily. A sealcoat will prevent this from taking place.
The oxidation process is responsible for creating a whole lot of mess on the surface. Apart from the brittle nature that can be created, you may also experience the release of fines, which exposes the aggregate in the mixture. With such exposure to traffic, the aggregate will easily pull out and eventually form cracks. If untreated, the cracks become larger and allow water beneath the pavement, and we all know what water does to asphalt when it is right beneath the pavement.
Sealcoating is a part of the overall protective system
Sealcoating is done as part of the larger process, and should not be overemphasized against the rest of the processes involved in laying out an asphalt pavement. The truth of the matter is that water will still find a way to sip through the asphalt if the pavement is not done well from the beginning. Water has a way of sipping through a place of lowest resistance, so any contractor needs to keep this in mind while working the process.
Sealcoating needs to be done as well to any pavement repairs as part of the maintenance process. Crack-sealing, for example needs to be properly filled out before the sealcoat is applied. It must be noted that the sealcoat is not a crack filler, and is never designed to do this.
The coating improves the aesthetical appearance
After sealcoating, the area will deliver a great aesthetical appearance for your pavement. If you are, for example, a store owner who has a parking lot, your customers will want to come to a place that looks inviting, with nicely done black and white stripped surfaces, that builds a good first impression about the kind of service you are ready to offer them. It is said that the first impression makes a big percentage of a customer’s perception of who you are, and the parking lot is the first symbol that will influence your customers’ perception of your store.
