Residential and commercial property owners across the country choose asphalt driveways and parking lots because asphalt paving st louis mo are aesthetically appealing, durable, and easy to maintain. Even perfectly installed asphalt surfaces won’t look smooth and slick forever without occasional professional maintenance, though. Read on to find out about the signs it’s time to call a contractor for Pavement Resealing to protect the asphalt and restore its visual appeal.
Color Fade
Asphalt sealcoating helps to protect driveways and parking lots from sun damage. A fully coated surface looks smooth and black, just like it did when it was newly installed. Over time, the sun’s UV rays take their toll and the asphalt begins to turn gray. While this might seem like a superficial concern, it’s not. The discoloration indicates that the asphalt is beginning to oxidize, which will leave it more prone to cracks.
Minor Cracks
If residents or visitors notice that small cracks are beginning to form on the driveway or parking lot, it’s best to take action immediately. Only minor cracks can be addressed through resealing. If they’re allowed to linger and get better, pavement contractors will have to use crack filling agents or other repair methods before they can reseal the surface, driving up the cost of maintenance.
Automotive Fluid Stains
Given that most asphalt surfaces are used for parking cars, it should come as no surprise that they often come into contact with automotive chemicals like gas, diesel, motor oil, and coolant. The introduction of these chemicals is no big deal on a freshly coated parking lot. Just clean them up and move on. On an older parking lot, though, they’ll begin to leach through the aging sealcoat to reach the asphalt underneath, where they can cause a good deal of damage. If there are stains from automotive fluids on a driveway or parking lot’s surface that can’t be removed, call a paver to ask about recoating before they damage the asphalt beneath.
The Approach of Cold Weather
Winter’s rain, snow, and frosts can take a huge toll on parking lots and driveways if they’ve been compromised at all by existing damage. Heavily-trafficked parking lots are also more susceptible to seasonal damage. Scheduling a recoating before the winter arrives is the best way to protect the surface from anything Mother Nature has to throw at it.
Normal Aging Processes
All kinds of factors influence how long a sealcoat will last, from the area’s climate to the quality of the materials used during the last round of maintenance and how the asphalt surface is used. There’s one thing that always holds true, though. Over time, the pavement’s sealant will wear down, and it will need to be replaced eventually. Most experts recommend having pavement resealed every three to five years.
The Bottom Line
Resealing pavement is a great way to protect its longevity and restore its aesthetic appeal. When in doubt about whether it’s really time to perform asphalt maintenance, call a paving company to schedule an inspection. An expert asphalt paving services Sonoma CA can take a look at the surface and determine whether it needs to be resealed.
