Asphalt parking lots offer excellent curb appeal, are economical to construct, and can serve your business for many years before they need to be replaced or resurfaced. Getting the longest life with the fewest major repairs requires a bit of maintenance, though. Sealcoating a parking lot is an effective and economical way to preserve its integrity as well as its appearance. However, you will need to make sure that your parking lot is prepared to receive a sealcoating application. Preparation involves cleaning, repairing, and resolving certain pavement defects.
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ToggleWhat Cleaning Is Required for Sealcoating a Parking Lot?
Sealcoating contractors know that sealcoating will not adhere properly to a dirty pavement. You will need to ask the sealcoating company you hire the specific steps they will take to make sure that your pavement is clean enough to sealcoat. Generally, you or your contractor will need to perform all or most of the following steps.
1. Sweep the pavement to remove loose gravel, dirt, leaves, trash, broken bits of asphalt, and grass.
2. Sop up puddles of oil, gas, or other fluids that vehicles have deposited on your pavement, then scrub the stains thoroughly.
3. Tree sap can also interfere with bonding. You may be able to remove the sap by scrubbing your pavement. However, when sealcoating parking lots, many contractors pressure wash the pavement, and this may take care of the problem.
4. Make note of all pavement defects, including potholes and cracks as well as areas that have raveled or alligatored. You should also note any surface depressions or drainage issues.
What Repairs Should Be Completed Before Sealcoating a Parking Lot?
Asphalt sealcoating has very little ability to repair a pavement. At best, it may hide a few hairline cracks or minor flaws. All other significant defects will need to be repaired. Some Dallas sealcoating contractors offer the following repair procedures.
1. Ask your asphalt maintenance or sealcoating company to repair any cracks wider than approximately a quarter of an inch.
2. Potholes, surface depressions, and alligator cracking will typically need to be patched.
3. If raveling is present in only a small area, patching may be an option.
What Pavement Defects Should Be Addressed Before Sealcoating?
Many pavement defects that cannot be corrected by crack repairs or patches may be resolved with an asphalt overlay.
1. Widespread raveling normally requires the installation of an asphalt overlay.
2. Some severe block, longitudinal, and transverse cracks cannot be repaired by filling or sealing them. For these cracks, the best option is to mill the pavement to remove the damage, then install an overlay.
3. Deep depressions in the pavement’s surface and certain drainage problems can sometimes be fixed by milling and overlaying the pavement.
If you have more questions about how to prepare for asphalt paving lot sealcoating, contact HI-TEK Paving Services. We are a family-owned business serving Dallas, Forney, Garland, Grand Prairie, Mesquite, Plano, Rockwall, and many other towns in and around the metroplex. We serve both residential and commercial clients, and we handle both large and small projects. Our services include asphalt paving, asphalt crack repair, asphalt overlays, asphalt repairs, asphalt sealcoating, parking lot striping, parking lot maintenance, and concrete installation and repair. We are known for providing exceptional work and extraordinary customer service on every job. If you would like to request a free quote, email Kevin@Hi-TekPaving.com, submit the online form, or call 214-908-9641.