When your parking lot or other asphalt pavement was installed, your paving contractor probably recommended that you have a sealant applied before the pavement was a year old. Sealants can often double the life expectancy of a pavement, but they must be refreshed periodically. The schedule for asphalt sealcoating depends on the use to which your pavement is subjected, but most parking lots need fresh sealant applied every two to three years to provide the best results. However, if the sealant is to look and last as well as it should, the weather must be favorable.
When Is the Asphalt Sealcoating Season? | Marietta, GA
Is Asphalt Sealcoating Limited to a Particular Season?
Most paving contractors define the sealcoating season in North Georgia as beginning around March 20 and continuing until about November 10. However, those dates are only estimates, and they can vary annually. Even within those dates, there will be numerous days on which the weather will not permit a sealcoating contractor to apply fresh sealant or perform related parking lot maintenance tasks, including crack repairs, pavement markings and pothole repairs. Conversely, there can be days outside of the defined season on which sealants can be applied, especially if the job is relatively small in scope.
• The temperature is a major factor in the success of a sealcoating job. Sealants do not react well to cold, and if the temperature is less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit, it is highly probable that the particles suspended in the sealant will fail to bond together in a continuous film. If this happens, the sealant can display a mottled or patchy appearance, but it will also have its life expectancy reduced. Furthermore, the temperature must remain above 50 degrees until the sealcoating is sufficiently cured.
• As you probably know, sealants cannot be applied if the pavement is wet. However, you might not realize that if rain falls before the sealant is adequately cured, the job can be ruined. Therefore, your sealcoating contractor will pay close attention to the weather forecast. If rain is predicted within 24 hours of the application, your contractor may choose to postpone the work.
• Humidity levels are typically high in North Georgia, particularly during the summer months. Experienced contractors know how to deal with levels that exceed the ideal of 50 percent, but once the humidity level exceeds 90 percent, it is virtually impossible to guarantee the success of a sealcoating application.
• The sun’s rays play a vital role in the curing of asphalt sealcoating. Ideally, the new sealant should receive three to four hours of exposure to direct sunlight. This can be an issue when the skies are overcast.
• A sealcoating job often requires other types of asphalt maintenance. For example, any cracks or potholes will need to be repaired prior to the application of the sealant, or the parking lot markings may need to be repainted after the sealcoating. These other procedures each have their own weather requirements, and although the requirements are normally close enough that all procedures can be performed under the same conditions, this is not always the case.
You can trust MH Greeson for all of your asphalt maintenance needs, including sealcoating, crack repairs, pavement markings, traffic signs, asphalt overlays, parking lot striping and asphalt patching. We specialize in parking lot maintenance, and we would be happy to tailor a routine maintenance plan to suit your specific needs. We are known for providing customers throughout Atlanta and North Georgia with exceptional quality at affordable prices. You can fill out the online form or call 770-335-2983 to request a free quote.
