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SEAL
COATING |
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Benefits of Seal coating
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Extended Life
Seal coating is the most important aspect of pavement maintenance
as it actually slows down the natural deterioration of an asphalt
surface. The seal coat material we use is a coal tar pitch with inert
fillers, water, emulsifying agents and additives.
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Resists Oil and Gas Spills
Small gasoline spills in our hot weather will soften and break down
asphalt pavements. This is because asphalt is also a petroleum-based
product. Because coal tars are not soluble in gas or oil, it is impervious
to gas and oil spills. By filling surface voids, sealing also reduces
the depth to which oil or gas can penetrate the pavement.
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Slows Oxidation and Water
Penetration
Exposure to oxygen hardens asphalt binders and results in a broken
pavement surface that soon cracks. These cracks permit water to penetrate
to the sub-base, weakening it and reducing pavement strength. This,
in turn, leads to more cracks, which will eventually expand and become
potholes. Seal coat fills surface voids, reducing exposure to oxygen
and water and prolonging pavement life.
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Easier to Clean and Maintain
Seal coat fills the surface voids while coating the pavement surface.
Sweeping or debris blowing is more efficient on the smoother surface.
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Beautification
Fresh seal coat brings a rich dark color to the pavement, making it
look and wear like new. A black parking lot with crisp fresh lines
has a clean, rich look that presents a positive image of the company,
facility, apartment complex, or private residence.
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Increased Pavement Flexibility
A sealed surface is black as opposed
to the white / gray of an oxidized surface. The blacker it is the
more heat it draws from the sun. This makes the asphalt more pliable
and more able to withstand traffic volume changes without cracking.
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Cost Effective
While seal coating is not inexpensive, it is much less
costly than having to add an asphalt overlay when to asphalt is too damaged. Sealing
should be done every 3 - 5 years.
Preparation for seal coating
In order for seal coating to do its job, any structural failures or
cracks must be repaired in advance. All potholes must be removed and
replaced, and oil spots cleaned and oil primed. When this is done we
thoroughly clean the asphalt pavement using mechanical blowers and brooms.
Next we seal coat your pavement with a hard based asphalt emulsion seal
coating material that is easy to use and cures to an extremely attractive,
tough, wear-resistant, and smooth surface. This product allows
us to either brush on sealer (at the edges) or spray on the sealer (interior
of parking lot).
Once the seal coat has cured and dried we then stripe and traffic can
come on the surface after 24 hours.
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