Sealcoating is a necessary maintenance task that benefits your asphalt paving in many ways. When done by a seasoned asphalt sealcoating company, it keeps surfaces looking great, offers protection from the elements, prevents common forms of damage and more. Most surfaces only need sealcoating in Atlanta every three to five years, but it’s still an expense for which property owners and managers should budget.
Many will try to save money by taking a DIY approach to sealcoating or hiring an amateur asphalt sealcoating company to handle the job. Unfortunately, hiring an inexperienced team to apply asphalt sealer can lead to more headaches. Here are five common mistakes amateurs often make when sealcoating.
Does Surface Preparation Matter with Asphalt Sealcoating in Atlanta?
One of the easiest mistakes amateurs make is failing to prepare pavement for sealcoating. Atlanta asphalt sealcoating must occur on a clean and dry surface. Otherwise, the asphalt emulsion sealer used to protect the pavement won’t bond properly.
Teams should spend time sweeping the pavement, blasting dirt from cracks, pulling weeds and pre-treated oil stains. Without that prep work, the asphalt sealer will peel off quickly and offer little protection against the elements.
Can a Sealcoating Company Use Asphalt Sealer as a Crack Filler?
Contrary to popular belief, asphalt sealcoating is not a fix-all solution to all your pavement problems! While sealcoating can give paving a dramatic new look, it won’t correct issues like potholes, large voids, alligator cracking, etc.
You must address all those issues before you get Atlanta asphalt sealcoating. Amateurs often think they can save time and money by using asphalt sealer as a crack filler, but the product is far too thin to address anything wider than a hairline crack.
Will Applying a Thick Coat of Sealer Save Time?
Thicker is not better when sealcoating in Atlanta. Watch a professional asphalt sealcoating company at work, and you’ll notice they apply at least two very thin coats. Laying down a thicker coat won’t save time.
Instead, it’ll create curing issues. Thicker sealer won’t cure evenly. It’ll take forever to dry, and the final product will be prone to peeling, early wear and tracking. Thinner coats with proper curing time in-between are the best approach to asphalt sealcoating.
Why is It Bad for an Amateur Asphalt Sealcoating Company to Ignore the Weather?
Attempting to do asphalt sealcoating in Atlanta when the weather isn’t right is a huge mistake! Sealer products have specific environmental requirements. Most need temperatures to be at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit with low relative humidity and no precipitation.
Even a drizzle will interfere with the curing process, resulting in a patchy mess that takes forever to set. Moisture can also get underneath the sealer, creating huge bubbles and spots that will never cure.
Seasoned contractors specializing in Atlanta asphalt sealcoating will pay attention to the weather forecast, ensuring proper conditions on application day and several days after.
Does Sealcoating Actually Need 24 Hours to Cure?
Sealcoating in Atlanta takes a long time to cure. Amateur companies may tell you that the product only needs to dry for a few hours before the pavement is ready for use. But just because the sealer looks dry doesn’t mean it’s fully cured!
The truth is that sealers need anywhere from 24 to 48 hours of curing time before you can drive on it. Attempting to use the pavement before then will ruin the finish and create a costly mess.
Don’t skimp on asphalt sealcoating in Atlanta. Instead of hiring an amateur, turn to the professionals at The Surface Masters! The Surface Masters is an award-winning asphalt company proudly serving property owners and managers throughout the Atlanta area. We’re committed to meeting your needs, exceeding your expectations and innovating to develop solutions that work for you.
We’re Atlanta’s go-to paving company, offering services like new paving, sealcoating, repairs, milling and reclamation, concrete curbing, pavement markings and more.
Call The Surface Masters at (770)250-6392 or email us at Info@TheSurfaceMasters.com for a free quote. You can also submit your information through our online contact form, and a team member will get back to you in no time!
