How often should you sealcoat your asphalt?

Asphalt sealcoating is a process that helps to protect your asphalt pavement from damage. Sealcoating can extend the life of your pavement by preventing the sun and weather from causing cracks and potholes. It also helps to prevent oil and other fluids from seeping into the asphalt and breaking it down. In addition, sealcoating gives your pavement a fresh, new look that can help improve its appearance. It also makes surfaces more resistant to staining and wear. As a result, sealcoating can help prolong a paved surface’s life and keep it looking its best.

When done properly, though, asphalt sealcoating can greatly extend the life of your pavement. However, sealcoating is not a permanent solution, and it will need to be reapplied every few years to maintain its effectiveness. 

So, how often should you sealcoat your asphalt pavement?

Generally speaking, you should sealcoat your pavement every 2-3 years. However, several factors can affect how often you need to sealcoat, including:

Type of asphalt pavement

One of the main factors that will affect how often you need to sealcoat your asphalt pavement is the type of pavement. There are two types of asphalt pavements:

  • Porous asphalt: Porous asphalt is made up of small pores or voids. These allow water and other fluids to seep into the pavement, which can cause it to break down over time. Porous asphalt pavements need to be sealcoated more often than non-porous pavements because they are more susceptible to damage.
  • Non-porous asphalt: Non-porous asphalt does not have any pores or voids. As a result, it is less likely to be damaged by water and other fluids. However, non-porous asphalt can still be damaged by the sun and weather. For this reason, it is important to sealcoat non-porous asphalt pavements regularly.

Climate

Another factor that will affect how often you need to sealcoat your asphalt pavement is the climate. In general, sealcoating should be done more frequently in harsh climates or extreme weather conditions. This is because the sun and weather can cause damage to asphalt pavements, even if they are made of non-porous asphalt.

In contrast, sealcoating does not need to be done as often in milder climates. This is because the sun and weather are not as likely to cause damage to asphalt pavements in these areas. 

Traffic volume and type

According to the experts from ABС Paving, sealcoating contractor from Florida, the amount and type of traffic your pavement experiences. Pavements that see a lot of heavy traffic will require more frequent sealcoating than those that see lighter traffic. This is because heavy traffic can cause wear and tear on the pavement surface, leading to cracks and other damage. In addition, certain types of traffic can be more damaging than others. For example, vehicles with studded tires can cause more damage than those without studs.

Pavement age 

Newer pavements generally do not need to be sealcoated as frequently as older ones. This is because they have not had as much time to deteriorate and are less likely to develop cracks and other damage. However, it is still important to inspect your pavement regularly for any signs of damage so that you can address any problems before they become too severe

Type of sealant

There are two common types of sealants used on asphalt pavements: coal tar-based sealants and asphalt-based sealants. 

  • Coal tar-based sealants are typically more durable and longer-lasting than asphalt-based sealants. They provide a dark black finish that helps hide stains and imperfections in the pavement. Coal tar-based sealants also resist weathering and staining and wear better than asphalt-based sealants. However, they are also more expensive and can be more difficult to apply evenly. 
  • Asphalt-based sealants are less expensive than coal tar-based sealants and are easier to apply evenly. However, they do not last as long as coal tar-based sealants and do not provide the same level of protection against weathering, staining, and wear. 

Overall condition of the pavement

The overall condition of your pavement will also affect how often you need to sealcoat it. If your pavement is in good condition, with only a few cracks or small potholes, you can probably wait a bit longer between sealcoating jobs. However, if your pavement is in poor condition, with large cracks and potholes, you will need to sealcoat more often to prevent further damage. 

The number of coats applied

If you are sealcoating your driveway or parking lot, you will likely only apply one coat of sealer. This single coat will protect your asphalt from the elements and help prevent staining and wear. However, if you have a professional sealcoat for your asphalt, they may apply two coats. The first coat will act as a primer and help the second coat adhere better. The second coat will provide an extra layer of protection. In general, though, one coat is sufficient for most residential applications.

Quality of the sealer applied

The quality of the sealer is another important factor that will affect how often you need to sealcoat your pavement. A good-quality sealer can last for up to three years, while a poor-quality sealer may only last for one year or less. If you want your sealcoating to last, be sure to use a high-quality sealer that has been specifically designed for asphalt pavements.

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