A new, properly installed asphalt pavement has an appearance that most people find aesthetically pleasing. It is a smooth expanse with a rich, dark color that serves as an excellent backdrop for pavement markings and line striping. However, asphalt pavements need a bit of help to retain their beauty as well as their health. Asphalt sealing is a very cost-effective way to protect your pavement’s health and aesthetics. However, you will not be able to have your contractor apply sealcoating the minute your pavement is installed.
Why Is It Necessary to Wait Before New Asphalt Pavement?
Asphalt paving needs time to cure before a Chicago sealcoating company can seal the pavement. During the curing process, the excess oil that the asphalt contains will dissipate. This excess oil will prevent the asphalt sealcoating from bonding with the pavement. Without a strong bond, your parking lot sealcoating can flake off or wash away.
What Is the Typical Waiting Time for Asphalt Parking Lot Sealcoating?
It depends on the weather at the time of construction and immediately after, how thick the asphalt is, and other factors. When sealcoating local parking lots, most contractors in the Chicago area find that the waiting time is between three and six months. You can use the lower estimate if your pavement was installed during late spring or early summer. The higher estimate would be for thick, heavy-duty pavements or those installed in the spring or late summer.
Do Asphalt Overlays Need Sealcoating?
Your overlay needs the same care as a newly constructed pavement. This includes applying asphalt sealcoating as soon as curing is complete. However, since the typical overlay is less than three inches thick, the waiting time is normally around two months. You will need to ask your Chicago asphalt sealcoating company for a precise waiting time, though.
If I Must Wait Before Sealcoating My Pavement for the First Time, How Can I Protect My New Asphalt Paving?
You are right to be concerned about the health of your pavement while you are awaiting your initial asphalt sealcoating. Asphalt pavements are tender until they are fully cured, so you want to take precautions to prevent unwarranted damage.
1. If vehicles leak oil, diesel, gas, or other fluids onto your pavement, clean them up immediately. Automotive fluids react with the asphalt binder that keeps your pavement glued together, and this results in soft spots that crumble and turn into potholes.
2. Avoid leaving heavy loads in a stationary position for more than a few days. This includes pallets of material, parked cars, and construction equipment.
3. If people will be parking motorcycles or bicycles in your lot, set aside a specific area and install block for the kickstands. Otherwise, the kickstands can leave holes in the uncured asphalt.
4. Use deicing agents sparingly, and ask your asphalt contractor to recommend the safest products for your pavement. If you must plow your pavement, be sure to hire an experienced professional who knows how to set the blade height properly to avoid nicking your pavement.
5. If possible, encourage drivers to avoid turning their steering wheels while their vehicles are stationary. This can tear your pavement or leave ruts and marks.
6. You want to give the edges of your pavement as much protection as possible. You might want to consider placing obstacles along the edges to prevent people from driving too close to them. Backfilling along the edges with topsoil can sometimes help prevent edge cracking.
Since 1975, Black Hawk Paving has specialized in providing industrial and commercial services to customers in the greater Chicagoland area. We are a family-owned business with an impeccable reputation for craftsmanship, professionalism, integrity, and service. We can provide you with asphalt paving, asphalt sealcoating, asphalt repair, concrete flatwork, asphalt milling, site grading, hot crack sealing, excavations, concrete curbing, asphalt fabric, car stops, parking lot striping, sewer repairs, and pavement markings. If you would like to request a free job quote, you can submit our online form, email Info@BlackHawkPaving.com, or call our headquarters at 708-479-0400.
