Sealcoating your asphalt can give the slab a new lease on life. That is, sealcoating won't completely restore your asphalt and make it as strong as new asphalt, but it will make it look new and cover many of the blemishes, cracks, and voids. Some people use sealcoat too liberally, without first patching and repairing the damaged areas of the existing asphalt. This article explains how to sealcoat asphalt, including the vital steps that you need to do before apply the sealcoat.
Prep & Patching the Asphalt
Prepping your asphalt is of the utmost importance if you want to more fully restore and strengthen it. Most importantly, you need patch any holes or voids in the asphalt. Asphalt patch is a different substance than sealcoat. It is a thicker, more rubbery substance. It usually comes premixed in large cans or tubs. You can also find small caulk tubes which work great for filling small cracks. Clean out all of your cracks, removing any loose chunks and sweeping out any dirt.
The trick to applying asphalt patch is to overflow the damaged area. Let it overflow onto the top of the concrete and the use a squeegee to spread it around. You want to taper the edges of the patch so there are no edges or ridges when it dries. It will basiclaly look like you taped over the damaged area when it dries.
Apply the Sealcoat
Sealcoat is thin but protective layer. It is really only as strong as the original asphalt underneath it. So, if you just apply the sealcoat before patching all the damaged spots, it will only last temporarily. Sealcoats are stronger and last longer if they are applied in thin layers. If you try to apply it too thickly, it will not dry evenly and it could peel up. So, apply it in two thin coats instead of one thick coat.
You need to wait for the first coat to dry completely before applying the next coat. Because of this, the job usually takes at least two days. It is also helpful if apply sealcoat on a sunny day. It is ideal if you finish the application with a couple of hours of sunlight left in the day. This way it can dry and then cure overnight.
Sealcoat application is really simple, but you need to follow the right steps if you want a strong and durable finish. Learn more by contacting services like Azzarelli Paving & Site Development.