Wednesday 30 July 2014

Contact Asphalt Sealcoating Somerset County Contractors For Preservation Of Pavements

By Annabelle Holman


Once you have laid down asphaltic pavements, the next thing you have to plan for is timely and properly maintenance of the paving surfaces. Asphalt is a relatively cheaper material for installing pavements whether driveways or parking lots. However, it will need constant monitoring and inspection to ensure that any defects are detected early in advance and rectified. To prevent premature damages on driveways and parking lots, asphalt sealcoating Somerset County contractors will help in applying sealant products on blacktop.

Asphaltic material is a preferred choice for installing pavement because it last for long, withstands heavy weight, and offers aesthetic value to premises. The blacktop is exposed to environmental factors like rainwater, sunlight, and snow. These three factors can cause huge damage on pavement and thus the need to have the blacktop protected.

The fading you see on asphaltic parking lots and drives is caused by the UV light. As the sunrays bake the outermost layer of pavements, it makes them fade and dry. They become brittle and start unraveling. The small stones you see on surfaces are caused by binders that are weakening due to sunlight.

It is important you protect the surface from UV light and other factors. Using sealants is one way to keep the pavements safe. The sealants form a barrier, which prevents sunrays from heating and baking the blacktop. They also prevent water from seeping down the sub base. When water enters through cracks, it settles inside the sub base. It begins loosening the soils and other material underneath pavement surfaces.

Accompanied by the change in color is the formation of small tiny hairline cracks. These cracks are not usually visible at first but when left unattended to, they will widen and become noticeable. Sealcoats can address the issue of the hairline cracks. The coating will seal those tiny cracks at once. However, sealcoats are not meant to be repair techniques but preservation procedures.

Defects like depression and upheavals may form on pavement surfaces. When water settles underneath the pavement, it may condense and freeze during the winter season. Freezing water expands and enlarges the cracks where it percolates. When that frozen water eventually unthaws, it leaves larger cracks than the initial ones.

The cracks under pavements will force the material above to topple down and collapse thus forming potholes. These kinds of damages can be prevented by first protecting the blacktop. A sealant material applied on blacktop will act as a membrane that bars the direct heating by UV light on pavements. It will also prevent water from seeping down pavements. It is not only environmental factors that act on pavements but also manmade issues.

In applying sealcoats, ensure it is done when the oils on new pavements have dried. You may have to wait for months before you apply the first sealcoat. It takes up to a year or so for the oils to dry and pave way for sealcoats to be applied. With the sealcoats, they go a long way in preserving the strength of pavements and extending their lifespan. Sealcoat are a line of defense for your pavements from being destroyed by bad elements. The coats also enhance the traction effect of vehicle tires and the road surfaces thus minimizing skidding.




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