Asphalt pavements are aesthetically pleasing, rapid to construct, and economical to install. However, to reap the benefits of an asphalt pavement throughout its expected life, you will need to provide it with a certain amount of care. Asphalt sealcoating is one of the best ways that property owners and managers in northern Florida and southeastern Georgia can help their pavements enjoy long, healthy lives. However, asphalt sealcoating in Waycross GA needs to be applied every two or three years to ensure proper protection for your pavement.
What Is Asphalt Sealcoating?
There are numerous analogies that can be used to explain the function of asphalt sealcoating. Some people liken it to the varnish on wood that helps protect the wood from water stains and scratches while enhancing the beauty of the wood. Other people see the similarity between sealcoating and the clear coats that help protect the paint on vehicles. Just like varnish and automotive clear coats, asphalt sealcoats create a barrier that helps protect pavements from damage.
What Sources of Damage Will Asphalt Sealcoating Waycross, GA Protect Against?
Asphalt pavements can suffer severe damage from three sources, which are ultraviolet radiation, automotive petrochemicals, and water.
- You may know that UV rays can damage your skin, but you might not know that they can also inflict serious damage on your asphalt pavement. UV rays make asphalt dry and brittle, which greatly increases the pavement’s susceptibility to cracking or breaking. The same rays also bleach the color of asphalt pavements, turning them from dark black to dingy brown or gray. Sealcoating is a highly effective sunblock that screens out UV rays. Furthermore, sealcoating can usually restore a faded pavement to its original black color.
- Almost all of the fluids found in modern vehicles are petroleum-based products, including diesel, oil, and gasoline. Asphalt is also a petroleum-based product. When vehicles leak fluids onto an asphalt pavement, the fluids will create soft spots that crumble quickly and create potholes. Sealcoating lengthens the time that it will take automotive fluids to begin inflicting damage on the pavement. This gives you more time to clean up the leaked fluids.
- Although asphalt itself has excellent resistance to water, the foundation supporting an asphalt pavement is much more vulnerable to its effects. A strong, stable foundation supports the pavement as well as the traffic using the pavement. If water penetrates beneath the surface of the pavement, it can erode the foundation, leaving it too weak and unstable to do its job. Serious damage, including alligator cracking, sinkholes, and massive potholes, can occur. These types of damage can be costly to repair, primarily because they cannot be permanently fixed without removing the overlying pavement to expose the foundation. Sealcoating makes asphalt pavements even more resistant to water, but it also helps prevent the formation of cracks and potholes that could allow water to percolate down to the foundation.
If you would like to learn more about asphalt sealcoating, contact Lay-N-Spray. We have more than 15 years of experience in the construction industry. Our services include asphalt sealcoating, asphalt crack repair, parking lot maintenance, asphalt paving, parking lot striping, and asphalt repair. We also perform concrete work. Our employees are professionals who are committed to providing exceptional results on every project. You can request a free quote by calling 912-816-4463, completing the online form, or emailing Info@LNSPavementGA.com.