High-quality, properly applied sealing can help maximize the life of an asphalt pavement, minimize the need for significant expenditures for repairs, and maximize the pavement’s aesthetics. However, contractors in North Georgia are often asked why they prefer to perform asphalt sealcoating in the summer. It is not a matter of preference. It is simply that summer is the best time to handle sealcoat applications.
Why Summer Is the Best Time for Asphalt Sealcoating
What Is the Process for Asphalt Sealcoating?
To understand why summer is the prime season for sealcoating, a brief explanation of how the procedure works might prove beneficial. Before a parking lot maintenance company can apply a sealant, any breaks in the pavement must be repaired. The pavement maintenance company must meticulously clean the pavement, trim away any encroaching vegetation, and secure the work area to prevent people or vehicles from intruding. If necessary, a primer may be applied to problem areas. Once all of these tasks are completed, the contractor can begin the actual seal coating. In most cases, parking lot sealcoating is applied in two thin coats; the second coat cannot be applied until the first is sufficiently cured. If a third coat is needed in high-traffic areas, the second coat will need to cure first. Since sealants obscure stripes and other pavement markings, parking lot sealcoating must be followed by repainting the parking stalls and pavement markings, and this job must wait until the final coat of sealant has cured adequately.
How Long Does the Entire Asphalt Sealcoating Process Take?
The length of time needed for the entire process depends on a number of variables, including the square footage involved, the presence of landscaping islands or other obstructions, and the extent of the work needed to prepare the pavement for the sealant. However, as you can see from the above section, parking lot sealcoating can make for a long day, and this brings up an important reason why summer is an ideal time to perform the job, which is that summer days are longer.
Why Are Longer Days Better for Seal Coating?
There are two ways that longer days offer advantages for sealant applications. The first is that more hours of sunlight allow pavement maintenance contractors to complete more work at the site in a single visit. The sooner the contractor can finish the job, the faster you can have your pavement fully operational. However, the second reason is perhaps more important. Sealants cure by evaporating the water that they contain, and exposure to direct sunlight helps them do that faster. Sunlight accelerates evaporation through both its heat and its ultraviolet radiation. Without a reasonable rate of evaporation, the sealant may not cure properly, and this brings up another reason to sealcoat in the summer.
What Are Some Other Reasons Why Summer Is the Best Season for Sealcoating an Asphalt Pavement?
As any experienced asphalt contractor can tell you, asphalt coating are quite sensitive to the weather. The absolute minimum temperature at which sealants can be applied is around 50 degrees, and the job could be ruined if the temperature drops lower during the first 24 hours. The cooler it is, the longer it will take for the sealant to cure. If you combine a marginal temperature with a high humidity level, evaporation can be slowed so much that the sealant never cures acceptably. Humidity levels in North Georgia are usually quite high, but the summer heat helps counteract the effect of humidity on evaporation. In short, the summer months offer the best combination of factors to ensure superior curing of the sealant.
Why Should I Choose MH Greeson for My Pavement Maintenance?
We have the skills, resources, and experience to deliver exceptional results on every job, and we have an impeccable reputation for customer service, workmanship, honesty, and professionalism. Whether you need us to sealcoat your asphalt pavement, stripe your parking lot, install traffic signs and car stops, repair potholes or cracks in your asphalt pavement, install bollards, or maintain your tennis court, we can help. Call MH Greeson Paving at 770-335-2983 to discuss your paving-related needs or to request a free quote. If you prefer, you can use our online quote request form to send us the pertinent information.
