New asphalt pavement looks great when it is first laid. The deep black color, the smooth surface, and the sculptured edges provide a polished, professional appearance. But it seems that no sooner is asphalt put down than it begins to fade, crack, and crumble. This only happens if you don’t take the proper steps to protect it.
If you have an asphalt driveway, parking lot, or other surface, it will need periodic seal coating and maintenance to protect it from damage from traffic, rain, sun, snow, ice, chemicals, leaves, and other debris. If you intend to do it yourself, here’s everything you will need.
Supplies Needed For Asphalt Maintenance
You’ll need the following materials in order to do your own asphalt repairs and maintenance:
- Barriers. The first step should be to place barriers to keep all vehicle and foot traffic off the asphalt surface. This can be construction cones, buckets, sawhorses, or whatever items you have handy. Stringing yellow safety tape between them can help make it more visible that the area is off limits.
- Pressure washer. The next step is to thoroughly clean your asphalt surface with a pressure washer. You’ll need one with significant pressure that can blast away dirt, debris, mildew, chemicals, and anything else that may be on the surface. Allow the surface to dry for at least 24 hours before applying sealcoating.
- Oil spot primer. If there are oil stains on your asphalt, you’ll need to use oil spot primer to remove them before applying sealcoat. Follow the directions carefully for how to apply and remove the oil spot primer.
- Broom or squeegee. You will need either a broom or squeegee that is made for applying asphalt seal coating.
- Crack filler. Before sealing your asphalt you’ll want to fill any cracks that are visible. You can purchase asphalt crack filler that can be applied to the cracks in the surface. Some crack fillers go on hot and others go on cold. Read the directions carefully before applying to ensure you are using the crack filler correctly for best results.
- Seal coating. You will need a good quality seal coating to apply to your asphalt surface. There are a variety of products out there, so do your research to find one that is made for the purpose you’re using it for. Read reviews to compare the different products and determine which one to purchase.
You’ll need to check the weather forecast before applying seal coating to your asphalt surface. Make sure there is no rain coming for at least 24-48 hours so that the seal coat will have sufficient time to dry.
Should I Apply Asphalt Seal Coating Myself?
Asphalt seal coating can be a DIY (do it yourself) job in some cases. However, there is always a chance that something could go wrong and your asphalt surface will not be adequately protected. This could shorten the overall lifespan of your asphalt. Another consideration is the number and cost of supplies needed for the job, as well as the amount of time and labor required.
Benefits of Hiring Asphalt Experts For Maintenance
If the time, effort, and supplies required to maintain your asphalt seems like a lot, consider the benefits of hiring an asphalt paving contractor for maintenance:
- Professional results. When you hire asphalt professionals, you get professional looking results that last.
- Quality products. Asphalt paving experts know what products are good quality that will stand the test of time.
- Someone else does the work. You can sit and relax while someone else preps and seals your asphalt.
- Can handle large surfaces. If you have a large driveway or parking lot with a lot of square footage, professional asphalt paving companies have the equipment necessary to handle large areas.
Who Should I Hire To Protect My Asphalt?
The experts at TopWest Asphalt have the knowledge and experience to provide lasting protection for your asphalt surface. We use the highest quality products that we’ve tested extensively on our many paving projects. Your pavement will last longer and look newer with professional asphalt maintenance.
Call 604-755-0300 or contact us today to learn more and schedule a service appointment.
