Why Should I Sealcoat Asphalt?
Asphalt pavement is not built to last forever, but you can extend the life of it with timely repairs and maintenance – including sealcoating. Asphalt is a byproduct of the oil refining process. Due to being oil based it has excellent waterproof characteristics, flexible, and sticky so it does a great job holding together all the aggregate.
The hot mix asphalt is what protect the underneath base composed of clay or dirt from getting wet. When water is able to reach the subbase it begins to have issues such as potholes and cracking. Asphalt is susceptible to deterioration from day to day weather conditions.
To prevent asphalt from having big problems it’s important to look out for the first signs of deterioration – color fades to grey and shortly after hairline cracks begin to form.
So, how does sealcoating help?
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Slows Oxidation and Water Penetration
Sealcoating fills voids, reducing exposure to oxygen, moisture, and UV rays. It prevents moisture from rain and snow from seeping into your asphalt pavement that may cause cracks and potholes. As well as,
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Resist Oil and Gas Spills
Gasoline and oil breaks cause chemical corrosion that breaks down unsealed asphalt. Sealcoating reducing gas and oil penetration into the asphalt.
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Cost Effective
The cost of sealcoating is a fraction of an asphalt overlay. Sealcoating can extends the life of existing asphalt immensely at a minimal cost.
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Easier to Clean and Maintain
Sealcoating reduces maintenance costs considerable as it is easier to clean and maintain.
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Safer Roadways
Sealcoating provides added texture that improves driving safety. Over time, a pavement surface will become worn and the aggregate particles will become smooth and polished. When this occurs, the roads become slippery and makes it difficult to stop suddenly. Sealcoating increases surface friction with its added texture protecting drivers.
It’s important to note that sealcoating can improve and protect your pavement but has no impact on it structurally.
Almazan Construction is an asphalt maintenance provider you can trust. We ensure you the best quality of work that will preserve your pavement and improve the your investment for the years to come.