When you are planning to pave a driveway or a parking lot, you are likely to consider asphalt. In the United States, over 94% of roads are paved with asphalt. It’s also the material of choice for home and property owners.
Asphalt is durable and easy to install. It also has low maintenance costs. Meanwhile, the pavement looks appealing and withstands many extreme weather elements.
While a well-maintained asphalt pavement can last for decades, many driveways and parking lots give out after a year or two. The reason is the absence of a sealcoat.
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What Is Asphalt Sealcoating?
A sealcoat is an extra protective layer for your asphalt. It can keep the pavement safe from weather elements, chemicals, and damage. If you opt for asphalt sealcoating, you can enjoy your asphalt pavement for many years.
Property owners that avoid sealcoating often face such problems as water damage, potholes, and cracks. Meanwhile, asphalt loses its rich black color and becomes less appealing.
With the right maintenance and timely sealcoating, the asphalt paving can last for many years. According to experts from CSG Sealcoating, Tampa, sealcoating your driveway every one to three years (depending on the traffic and climate) can keep it in top shape for decades.
Is Asphalt Sealcoating Expensive?
Many property owners opt out of asphalt sealcoating because they are afraid of the associated costs. In reality, asphalt sealcoating isn’t expensive. You can expect to pay between $0.14 and $.25 per square foot. At the same time, asphalt paving will cost you around $10 per square foot.
By resealing your asphalt parking lot or driveway once every one to three years, you can avoid formidable repaving expenses. Regular sealing is much less expensive than regular repaving.
What Are The Benefits Of Asphalt Sealcoating?
Asphalt sealcoating comes with a variety of benefits. The most important points to consider when contemplating sealing include:
- Integrity – a sealcoat adds an extra layer of protection to your pavement. This keeps your asphalt strong regardless of the weather or the traffic it endures. Without a sealcoat, your asphalt driveway becomes vulnerable to cracks, rain, weather elements, and pressure from heavy vehicles.
- Resistance – by covering your asphalt pavement with a sealcoat, you make it more resistant to elements that may damage it. For example, a sealcoat doesn’t let the water seep through the asphalt and ruin it from the inside. Meanwhile, it can keep chemicals from loosening the binder and causing the pavement to fall apart.
- Appearance – your asphalt pavement looks great when it’s fresh. The rich black color of fresh asphalt fades with time, giving way to unappealing grey surface. When you seal the driveway, it gains color all over again, making your property look more appealing.
- Cost–efficiency – besides saving money on regular repaving, sealcoating can keep you from regular repairs. Asphalt pavement is prone to cracks. Even the smallest damage can lead to a pothole overnight. A sealcoat can prevent the crack from forming, keeping your pavement in top shape all year round.
- Snow melting – if you live in a cold state and deal with snow and ice, you know how hard it is to clean it off the pavement. Meanwhile, scratching the surface with shovels could damage your asphalt and lead to costly repairs. When you apply a sealcoat, it helps snow and ice melt quicker, making it safe to drive over the pavement.
Overall, a sealcoat is an excellent investment in the quality and integrity of your asphalt pavement. While it’s not a must-do for some homeowners, leaving your parking lot or driveway without it is likely to result in unexpected expenses.
The Takeaway: To Seal or Not to Seal?
When you invest in high-quality asphalt pavement, you want it to last as long as possible. Even if the climate is mild and the traffic is low, your asphalt surface undergoes serious stress. If you don’t give it extra protection, the pavement is likely to give out within a couple of years.
Sealcoating is an inexpensive yet highly effective way to extend the lifespan of asphalt. Consider researching the subject and applying a sealcoat regularly or consult an expert like https://www.