Top Question to Ask Your Sealcoating Contractor

Ask this question when getting estimates for sealcoating work, it will help you weed out the contractors that don't care enough to know their business.

What type of sealer do you use?

If they don't know the type, Coal Tar Emulsion or Asphalt Emulsion, then they can't call themselves a professional. Which type they use shouldn't be a deciding factor, but they should know what they use and why. If they do, it will show you that they at least care enough to know sealcoating basics and have a reason behind their choice. To find out more about the difference between Coal Tar and Asphalt Emulsion, check out my last post.

If you're a Sealcoating Contractor and don't know what you're using, it's not too late to dedicate yourself to your craft. Your Customers deserve to know what they're paying for, ask your supplier for information to help you become a better contractor. Here are a few places to start,

NAC Supply Resources, GemSeal Resource Center.  

Flawed Studies Attack Refined Coal Tar Sealers

With the recent attacks on Refined Coal Tar (RCT), more sealcoaters and homeowners are looking into Asphalt Emulsion Sealers (AE). There are some big differences between the two and while Sealer Manufacturers are making strides in offering a more stable AE Sealer, the fact remains that Asphalt Emulsion sealers can't compete with Refined Coal Tar Sealers on durability, appearance and consistency.

Refined Coal Tar Sealers. Refined Coal Tar based sealers are more durable and last longer than Asphalt Emulsion Sealers. They retain color better and are resistant to gasoline, oil, UV fading and road salts. RCT sealers are more forgiving, curing more readily in lower temperatures and humidity. RCT Sealers meet or exceed specification ASTM D 5727, making them similar to other RCT Sealers.

Asphalt Emulsion Sealers. Asphalt Emulsion sealers have less odor and potential for pitch burn to the Applicator, but there are no specifications for AE Sealers, making them less predictable and harder for the contractor to control.

If you're considering a switch based on recent articles, keep in mind that the USGS studies in Austin have been proven flawed and none of the cities that have banned coal tar have done their own studies. There has never been a documented case of cancer resulting from the use of Refined Coal Tar Sealers. RCT Sealers are unjustly confused in the USGS studies with Crude Coal Tar - it's not the same material.

Some AE Sealers are better than others, so make sure you check out the manufacturing process and if you're concerned enough to switch, you need to stay within the limitations of the manufacturer mix design and weather conditions. It's a good idea to be upfront with customers in regards to the limitations of Asphalt Emulsion, if your customer is expecting the same results as with Refined Coal Tar Sealers, they'll be disappointed.

More information on Sealer Ban: Science...and Fiction

Spray or Squeegee?

The answer to which application process is better, spray or squeegee is -  it depends. There are reputable companies that use both processes or one or the other, but the condition of the asphalt should play a part in the decision. Up near the house and next to sidewalks, an edging brush should be used to avoid over-spray. The larger open areas are where the applicator has to make a decision on which process to use.

Over-sealed surfaces can benefit from a spray application - the applicator can leave a thicker coat than with a squeegee. When using a squeegee on a smooth surface with very few voids to accept the sealer, the squeegee leaves very little sealer. The right spray technique can leave a better coat of sealer.

Porous surfaces will always cover well when sealer is hand applied, but can suffer if too light a coat is applied by spray. With spraying there are more variables that come into play, spray tip size and spray wand speed determine how thick the sealer goes on. 

Professional sealcoaters can achieve great results with both processes. Hire a reputable contractor and trust them to use the process that works best for your driveway.

Find a Contractor in Illinois
Purchase Squeegees & Spray Wands

Will Snow Plowing Damage My Asphalt?

Anything that scrapes your driveway or parking lot can damage it. Most of the snow plow damage I've seen on asphalt is minor and doesn't need structural repair. Many scrapes and scratches look worse than they really are. The sealer can be scraped off leaving unsealed aggregate, a sealcoat application in the spring should take care of the issue. Deeper scratches can be filled with crack-filler prior to the sealer application. If the gouges are deeper than 1" and the asphalt is loose, additional repairs may be necessary. The Infrared process can be used to heat the area and work asphalt back into the surface.

Some snow removal companies use a rubber or polyurethane cutting edge on their plow blades to lessen the impact on your driveway, while others set the plow blade 1/2" above the surface to avoid damage. Both of these options can leave excess snow on the asphalt. Flat surfaces usually don't see any damage, it's uneven surfaces with high areas or sudden grade changes that are most susceptible to winter plow damage.

Keep in mind that if you are looking for a very clean surface, there is a chance your asphalt may be damaged. Unless the damage is severe, ask your sealcoating contractor to address the areas in the spring and chalk it up to Mother Nature.

Is it Too Cold to Pave?

Over the years, I've inspected many asphalt surfaces that were paved when the weather wasn't ideal. Paving in colder temperatures introduces challenges to the Paving Contractor that are not present in warmer weather. The main challenge is getting the asphalt to the job and laying and compacting it before it cools down. It takes an organized crew with the proper equipment to deliver a quality job at the end of the season. In the Midwest, asphalt plants are usually open until early December. Prepared companies can usually attain good results all the way up to the end of the season. However, companies that are not set up to work fast will run into problems. Having the proper amount of people on the crew and the right equipment insures that the asphalt will be laid and compacted in a timely manner. 

If you are only repairing sections of asphalt, Infrared Repairs are a nice option. If executed properly, Infrared Repairs can be done in cold weather as long as hot asphalt is available. Infrared crews typically haul the asphalt to the job in a hotbox, which keeps it at the right temperature. In colder weather it takes a little longer to heat the repair area; but if the crew waits the proper time to heat through the whole lift, great results will follow. Adding hot asphalt into hot asphalt takes the temperature variable out of the equation. 

If you hire a reputable company, they will tell you when it's too late to do asphalt work. If you trust the company and they will guarantee the work, go ahead and have it done all the way up to the end of the season. 

For more informaton on Infrared Repairs, check out Asphalt Restoration, Inc.

You Can Drive On It, But It’s Not Cured

Now that you've spent the money to replace or repair your asphalt driveway or parking lot, it’s time to protect your investment. In hot temperatures, it’s a good idea to stay off your new asphalt for 2 days. After the 2 days are up the pavement is not cured, but is ready to be opened up to traffic. It can take up to 12 months for the liquid asphalt to fully cure, so during this time it’s important to avoid the following situations.

When driving on your new asphalt, be conscious that your car should remain in motion as you turn the steering wheel. Turning your wheel while the car is stopped will cause your tires to skid across and grab your new asphalt, causing the surface to scar. You should also avoid parking in the same spot every day, as it could cause depressions where the tires sit. Anything parked on the pavement with kick stands or trailer jacks can sink into the driveway. Make sure the surface is protected with a board to displace the weight. Gasoline, oil, transmission and power steering fluids can all penetrate into asphalt, softening it and causing structural damage. Once the asphalt has been sealcoated a few times, the chances of penetration will be diminished.

Your driveway or parking lot is naturally flexible; even when fully cured, it will never be as hard or smooth as concrete. Keep these situations in mind and you should get your pavement through the early stages without any trouble.

If any of the above situations have damaged your pavement, Infrared Repairs are ideal for repairing them without cold joints www.asphaltrestore.com

Does it Matter How Your Sealer is Made?

Many property owners and sealcoating contractors think that all sealer is made using the same process. There's a huge difference between the two types of manufacturing- Colloid Mill and Batch. Most sealer looks the same going down, but the longevity and color consistency really tells the story.

When sealer is made with a colloid mill, raw material is squeezed using pressure and sheared through the mill. The mill controls the pressure, temperature and flow; delivering a more homogeneous and stable material.

The batch system is similar to a cake mixer; blades spin around and mix parts of the mixture, while other parts rise above the blades. The simplicity of the system can leave you with an unstable, improperly mixed material.

Hiring a good contractor to do the job is important, but a successful project starts with the right material. The difference between the consistencies of the two products is like night and day. Ask your contractor how the sealer they use is manufactured- if they say the batch system, keep your fingers crossed that you get a good batch.
For more technical information on the two processes, go to http://www.gemseal.net/contractors/manufacturing-process.cfm