Commercial Paving for the greater Chicagoland and Midwest Area!
Commercial Paving for the greater Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Area!
The best way to ensure a long, healthy life for your asphalt pavement is to have it sealed within its first year, then resealed every couple of years thereafter. Asphalt sealing is surprisingly inexpensive, but it is remarkably effective at preventing pavement damage caused by automotive fluids, the sun, and other environmental forces. Although the sealing process may seem straightforward, asphalt sealcoating is very sensitive to the weather, so contractors need to make sure that the weather conditions will permit them to deliver satisfactory results. Temperatures and humidity levels are among the critical conditions that contractors must evaluate for every job.
Experienced asphalt maintenance contractors know that it is all about evaporation. The main ingredient in a sealcoating mix is water, and the water needs to evaporate at a relatively consistent rate so that the particulate matter in the mix can knit together, cure, and create a protective shell over the pavement. Cool temperatures slow the rate of evaporation, so evaporation increases when temperatures rise. High humidity levels also slow evaporation; if the humidity is high, the air quickly becomes so saturated that the water in the mix has nowhere to go. Parking lot maintenance contractors know that the combination of high humidity and cool temperatures can dramatically delay the curing process, and proper curing may be completely impossible in some cases.
Chicago asphalt sealcoating contractors realize that the weather conditions in the area are seldom ideal. Instead, they have to base their decisions on the best combination of conditions that meet the minimum acceptable tolerances.
1. Ground and air temperatures, also known as surface and ambient temperatures, need to be a minimum of 50 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the application process.
2. Humidity levels should be as low as possible, preferably no more than 50%. A Chicago asphalt company can successfully apply sealcoating when the relative humidity is higher, but no reputable contractor will make the attempt if the humidity is above 90% or so.
3. A light, steady breeze helps facilitate evaporation, but a strong wind can make it difficult or impossible to achieve an even coat. Furthermore, high winds increase the risk of overspray, which means that the sealant is blown onto nearby structures or vehicles.
4. The day should be sunny and clear. Clouds and fog reduce the amount of sunlight that the sealant receives, and sunlight is essential for curing sealants.
5. Precipitation can ruin uncured sealant, so no rain, sleet, or snow should be expected for at least 24 hours after the application is completed. Naturally, there should be no precipitation during or immediately before the application commences. The chance of precipitation is one factor that sealcoating contractors monitor the most closely.
6. The ground temperature must remain above freezing for a minimum of 24 hours after the sealant is applied. If the uncured sealant freezes, it can crack and flake off, leaving the pavement unprotected.
If you have additional questions about asphalt sealcoating, contact the experts at Black Hawk Paving. Our asphalt paving services include sealcoating, hot crack sealing, milling, asphalt patching and repair, and asphalt paving. We also offer concrete flatwork and curbing, parking lot striping, car stops, excavation and site grading, sewer repair, pavement markings, asphalt fabric, and traffic signage. We serve a variety of clients, including national chains, industrial manufacturers, houses of worship, schools, car dealerships, retailers, and hotels. We have been serving Chicagoland since 1975, and we have earned an exemplary reputation for superior customer service and exceptional craftsmanship. To request a free quote, you can call us at 773-378-2390, 708-479-0400, or 847-240-2560, or you can fill out our online form.
Our team has provided commercial and industrial paving installation and maintenance services to our clients in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs for more than 46 Years in Business- 1975.
