This month on the Sunrise Asphalt blog, we’re looking at one of the most important aspects of the job. The Seal Coat! We’re going to cover what seal coating is, and performance issues as well as causes of wear and tear. By the end of this month, you’ll have a much better working knowledge of a key piece of asphalt work.
A Seal Coat, also known as a pavement sealer is a liquid coating that is applied to asphalt. The purpose is to form a protective coating on the pavement, similar to the way paint is used to protect wood from the weather and environment.This is important in areas where the pavement is exposed to freezing temperatures and extreme heat. The weather isn’t the only risk for pavement. Chemicals that are petroleum based like those frequently used in cars can also damage pavement. The seal coat protects from all of that.
While there are several forms of seal coats, all defined by their base it is a contractors choice on which they will use to seal the surface. At Sunrise Asphalt Seal Master sealer which is made locally is used and is a quality product.
Seal coats are applied after the surface has been cleaned. Using pressurized spray equipment or by hand the sealer is applied at a rate roughly 60 square feet per gallon. One or two coats can be applied and drying time is within 24-48 hours.
Well, there you have it, a brief rundown on sealing. Obviously, this post does not encapsulate all the nuances to it’s application, it does give a basic understanding. Next time on the Sunrise Asphalt blog, we’ll look at the performance of seal coats.
