Thursday 30 May 2013

The Need For Parking Lot Sealcoating

By Jacqueline McFadden


Weathering, oxidation and gasoline are among the major causes of the wearing out of a parking lot. This therefore creates the need for regular parking lot sealcoating. Coating is done in order to provide protection and making the area more durable. This should be carried out from time to time basically after every 2 - 3 years.

The most common material used in the construction of parking lots is asphalt. This is in most cases affected by water related effects because water normally seeps through cracks that may have developed on the surface. These cracks are as a result of other various causes. If water seeps through, it will cause damages that may eventually create potholes.

The curing period for asphalt is approximately 70 days. This works for new car lots although this period may vary with the weather conditions of the installation area. It also depends on the mixing components used for the asphalt. For old car lots, there is need to use a primer before the application of the sealer.

Before seal coating is done, the area to be coated should be cleaned thoroughly. This will involve the pulling out of any weeds that may be growing in the car lot. Any loose asphalt materials should also be removed from pot holes and cracks and a wire brush may be ideal for this purpose. This can also be done by flashing water from a hose nozzle or by use of compressed air. Scrubbing the area using diluted cleaners is also necessary so as to ensure that there is a clean surface where bonding will take place effectively.

After thorough cleaning carried out, the cracks and potholes should then be filled. This is done using a crack filler solution which is based on asphalt emulsions. On its own, it is ideal for cracks, but where there are potholes, asphalt and other additives are mixed with the crack filler.

Parking lot seal coating material is basically supplied as a concentrate of other substances. It is made out of refined tar which has to be appropriately mixed during the application so as to ensure effective coating. The mix used therefore is made up of sand, water and tar. Other additives are also used for efficiency. The proportions of water and sand used make a considerable impact whereby if less or more is used there will be varying results.

The sealer is applied by use of special equipments. These equipments are connected with spray units and squeegee brushes that help in applying the seal. For areas which cannot be reached by the machinery, hand application is done. However it should match the kind of work done using machines. The sealer is applied in two coats to allow for better penetration and also to have a long lasting performance.

Parking lot sealcoating requires the expertise of a professional. These professionals work as contractors who fully understand the varying requirements for a good outcome. The contractors can be consulted by sourcing their contact information from local directories. The same can also be accessed by use of internet search engines. You should however ensure that you get to know the kinds of services they offer first and the materials that they use fr the same.




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1 comment:

  1. Wow! Such an amazing and helpful post this is. I really really love it. It's so good and so awesome. I am just amazed. I hope that you continue to do your work like this in the future also asphalt paving contractors in Michigan

    ReplyDelete