Installing an asphalt parking lot is one of the best investments a commercial property owner can make. It provides safe access to their business and gives the site a clean appearance. Asphalt pavement should be sealcoated as part of it’s installation or within one year. The Best Sealcoating In Kalamazoo MI, prevents pavement breakdown and extends the life of the pavement by as much as 300 percent. Sealcoating stops water from seeping into the pavement and slows drying out from exposure to the sun. It should be applied every two to three years, depending on the weather and traffic.
Asphalt has coarse and porous qualities. Sealcoating is a non-porous protective barrier that conforms to the top of the asphalt. It keeps water from seeping into the lower layers of asphalt pavement. If the pavement isn’t sealed properly, moisture deep in the pavement expands during the cold Michigan winter as it freezes. When spring arrives, it melts. This constant expansion and contraction destroys the stability of the asphalt pavement. Cracks, frost heaves, and potholes can appear.
Because sealcoating smooths the top of the asphalt, it is much easier to plow in the winter. Sealcoating also contains materials that block the sun’s UV rays and slows the oxidation process. When pavement oxidized or rusts, it becomes dry and crumbly. Water can seep easily into its lower layers and cause pavement failure. Sealcoating cannot reverse oxidation once it has already started. It is, therefore, very important that the property owner have their asphalt pavement inspected at least every two years.
Sealcoating can wear away and leave isolated spots in the asphalt vulnerable. That’s why it’s important to include sealcoating as part of a pavement management plan. A pavement expert carefully examines the condition of the asphalt. He looks for any signs of wear, such as small cracks, broken patches of asphalt, and oxidization. He will also look at the condition of the sealcoating. If he sees that it’s wearing away in areas, he’ll recommend that the Best Sealcoating In Kalamazoo MI, be reapplied. This is far cheaper and easier than replacing patches of pavement that have failed.
