There are numerous advantages to asphalt pavements, including installation speed, cost, and aesthetic appeal. However, if you want to retain your pavement’s health and pleasing appearance, you will need to give it some routine maintenance from time to time. Your maintenance plan should include regular applications of a high-quality sealcoat, and spring is a great time for Dallas asphalt sealcoating.
What Are the Benefits of Dallas Asphalt Sealcoating?
Asphalt pavements in the metroplex must endure some harsh conditions. Summers are often very humid and extremely hot, winters can bring freezing temperatures and ice storms, and thunderstorms can leave pedestrians wading through water to reach your door. In addition to the wear that vehicles inflict, they can also leave deposits of oil, gas, and other automotive fluids on your pavement. With so many sources of potential damage, your pavement needs help to fend off its enemies. Sealcoating parking lots in Dallas is the most cost-effective way to help your pavement defend itself.
1. Sealcoating Dallas pavements protects them against ultraviolet radiation. UV rays make asphalt pavements brittle and more likely to crack. The sun will also cause the color of your pavement to fade. Sealcoating is extremely good at blocking UV rays.
2. Dallas asphalt sealcoating will also enhance the appearance of your pavement. It will restore faded pavements to their original dark color, hide minor surface imperfections, and make the pavement appear smoother.
3. Sealcoating parking lots slows the rate at which automotive fluids can begin to interact with the binder in asphalt pavements. Automotive fluids deteriorate the binder, leaving a soft, crumbly spot that quickly turns into a pothole.
4. Sealcoating Dallas pavements also improves traction, especially when the pavement is wet. This reduces the odds that pedestrians will slip and fall, cars will experience hydroplaning, or cyclists will skid out of control.
Why Is Spring a Good Time for Dallas Asphalt Sealcoating?
Sealcoating contractors need a combination of weather conditions to achieve satisfactory results. Sealcoating needs the water it contains to evaporate at a predictable, steady rate so that the particles in the sealant can knit together to create a protective shell that adheres properly to the pavement. The rate of evaporation is affected by the temperature, humidity, wind, and sunlight. Spring is the season in which all conditions are likely to occur on the same day.
What Are the Acceptable Conditions for Dallas Asphalt Sealcoating?
One condition that an asphalt sealcoating company will find completely unacceptable is a forecast of rain on the day of an application. If rain falls before the sealcoating cures, the best-case scenario is that the surface will have a mottled appearance. The worst case is that the rain will wash away the sealant. As far as acceptable conditions are concerned, sealcoating contractors look for the following.
1. Temperature: The absolute minimum temperature for sealcoating parking lots is around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The ideal temperature is 70 degrees. Once the temperature approaches triple digits, your Dallas asphalt sealcoating contractor will likely need to take steps to cool the pavement to prevent flash drying.
2. Humidity: Humidity levels can never be too low for sealcoating Dallas pavements; the lower the humidity, the easier it is for the water molecules trapped in the sealant to escape into the air. Your asphalt sealcoating company prefers humidity levels of less than 50%, especially if the temperature is less than 70 degrees. Once the humidity level is greater than 90%, most sealcoating contractors will postpone the job.
3. Wind: When sealcoating parking lots and other asphalt pavements, contractors need a steady breeze of at least 3 mph. This helps move the saturated air above the pavement away so that more water molecules can escape. However, once the wind velocity exceeds about 10 mph, it complicates matters, especially when sealcoating parking lots. The wind can disrupt the sealant as it leaves the sprayer, so operators must exercise great care to achieve an even distribution and keep the sealant confined to the pavement.
4. Sunlight: To cure properly, sealcoating needs to be exposed to sunlight for at least four hours. Sunlight also helps the sealant dry faster. This is why your asphalt sealcoating company may refuse to sealcoat your pavement at night or on a heavily overcast day.
If you have additional questions about Dallas asphalt sealcoating, contact HI-TEK Paving Services. In addition to sealcoating, we offer asphalt paving and resurfacing, asphalt patching and repair, parking lot striping, concrete repair, parking lot maintenance, asphalt crack repair, and concrete installation. We have impeccable references and an exemplary reputation for service, craftsmanship, dependability, and professionalism. To request a free quote, fill out the online form, call 214-908-9641, or email Kevin@HI-TEKPaving.com.