What is Commercial Parking Lot Sealcoating?
Asphalt is one of the most durable materials you can use for your commercial parking lot. However, that durability is put to the test when it is constantly exposed to traffic and environmental conditions. Over time, vehicle wear, UV rays, and other things can compromise the functionality and safety of a parking lot.
Sealcoating is the best way to protect your surface from external factors. It involves applying a protective coating directly to the asphalt surface. Continue reading to learn more about sealcoating and what it can do for your parking lot.
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Why Every Parking Lot Needs Sealcoating
Every day, your asphalt parking lot is exposed to a wide variety of elements. From constant sun exposure, rainy conditions, to simply being driven over by vehicles, each of these factors wears down the material over time. This can often result in unsightly cracking, fading, and even dangerous potholes.
Sealcoating provides a commercial asphalt parking lot with a protective shield against these elements, reducing the risk of premature damage to the material, preserving its curb appeal, and greatly extending its lifespan.
What Are the Benefits of Regular Commercial Parking Lot Sealcoating
By maintaining a routine of proper parking lot sealcoating, you save more than just money; you save time and, most importantly, extend the longevity of your pavement.
However, this is only the tip of the iceberg, as sealcoating offers much more, including:
Boost Safety
As a business owner or property manager, one of your top priorities is keeping your spaces safe for your customers, and this, of course, includes your parking lot. By sealcoating your asphalt, you reduce the risk of issues like cracks and potholes forming, allowing both foot and vehicle traffic to move along safely.
Reduces The Need For Extensive Maintenance
With routine sealcoating, your commercial parking lot becomes less likely to develop problems like potholes and cracks, reducing the need for extensive and costly maintenance and allowing your business to run smoothly with minimal issues.
Provides Greater Ease of Cleaning
Once sealcoating is applied correctly, it leaves the asphalt with a smooth surface and reduced surface cracking. This not only means sweeping and cleaning become easier, but it also prevents dust and debris from getting trapped underneath the material through the cracks.
Enhances Curb Appeal
Over time, the constant exposure to different elements not only wears down the functionality of asphalt but also its appearance. Sealcoating, once applied, restores the clean, dark finish of the material, better highlights traffic markings, and catches the eyes of drivers and pedestrians alike.
Extended Lifespan
Sealcoating protects your surface from environmental factors, such as UV rays and rainfall, which are common culprits of long-term damage.
When incorporated into routine maintenance, your parking lot can remain protected from premature wear and tear, extending the life of the material and resulting in a safe, functional surface that lasts for years to come.
Prevents Damage From Snow and Ice
Sealcoating acts as a barrier against precipitation, preventing rain, snow, or other elements from penetrating the asphalt material.
As such, it prevents the liquid from seeping in and freezing, it avoids the risk of expansion, which often results in cracks, surface instability, and other long-term damage.
Protection From The Sun
The sun is one of the primary causes of asphalt wear and tear. Over time, the UV rays slowly dry out the material, leading to issues such as cracks.
With sealcoating, the material is provided with a barrier against the rays, preventing long-term damage and maintaining the asphalt’s appearance.
Protection From Moisture
As previously discussed, over time, water can take a toll on paved surfaces. Unfortunately, moisture doesn’t need to be frozen to affect your parking lot, as any form of water can begin eroding the material or even cause a washout during the rainy season.
Sealcoating provides a protective barrier against moisture seepage, keeping the parking lot’s core components dry and stable.
Enhances and Retains the Pavement’s Dark Look
For some parking lots, the wear and tear of the elements can leave the surfaces looking weathered, aged, and unappealing. Commercial parking lot sealcoating restores the fresh black finish, helping to catch the eyes of future customers.
Protection From Contaminants
We’ve talked a lot about natural elements, but one of the most significant factors in asphalt damage is chemicals like gasoline and other contaminants, which can erode the surfaces. The protective barrier that sealcoating provides enhances the material’s resilience against chemicals, reducing the risk of seepage and long-term damage.
Maintenance Tips After Sealcoating
While sealcoating is an effective way of defending the safety and function of your commercial parking lot, it is not something you can just leave alone. Routine maintenance not only preserves the coating but also maintains the condition of your asphalt.
Once your sealcoating is applied, make sure to perform the following maintenance.
Regular Sweeping
Just like the floors of any home, a commercial parking lot tracks up a ton of dirt and debris. Making the habit of sweeping the surfaces not only keeps them looking fresh but also prevents garbage and leaves from trapping moisture and causing long-term damage.
Inspect For Cracks
Cracks are an inevitable part of asphalt, even when you have the proper sealcoating applied. Make it a habit to assess your surfaces for any cracking and address them promptly to prevent further damage.
Avoid Harsh Chemicals
Whether it’s accidentally spilling oil or gasoline, it’s important to know that chemicals and sealcoating don’t mix. The substances can begin breaking down the protective layer that sealcoating provides, leaving the surface vulnerable. If a chemical spill does occur, clean it up as soon as you can to avoid more severe damage.
Minimize Heavy Vehicle Traffic
While most of the time, traffic is out of your hands day to day, there are measures you can take to defend your pavement. You can designate areas for heavier vehicles to travel, reducing the risk of severe wear to your normal commercial surfaces.
Schedule Routine Sealcoating Services
Sealcoating only lasts for around 2 to 3 years before needing to be reapplied. Make it a routine to have a service done after this time to maintain your asphalt parking lot’s protection.
Asphalt Sealcoating Services in Northern Virginia & The Mid-Atlantic
Frequently Asked Questions About Parking Lot Sealcoating
How Long Does a Sealcoat Last?
Sealcoating lasts you for around 2 to 3 years. This time can be affected by factors like traffic, weather conditions, and routine maintenance. For example, areas with busy traffic on a daily basis may require more frequent applications to stay protected.
Can Sealcoating Be Done During Any Season?
While it is possible to apply sealcoating during any season, we advise having the service done when the climate conditions are warm and dry. This allows the protective coating to achieve its full adhesion and undergo a proper curing process. For areas like the D.C. Metro area, this would occur during the late spring, summer, or early fall.
How Soon After Sealcoating Can Cars Use the Parking Lot?
Typically, sealcoated parking lots require between 24 and 48 hours to cure fully. By allowing this time, it minimizes the risk of damage and provides for durability for smooth driving.
Does Sealcoating Prevent All Types of Cracks?
While sealcoating is effective in defending against surface cracking, it falls short when it comes to addressing deeper structural asphalt cracks. In that case, it is better to have a separate repair to restore the pavement’s stability.
Can Sealcoating Cover Existing Potholes?
Unfortunately, no. Sealcoating is not intended to be a filler for asphalt. So if your surface has any potholes, you’ll need them to be filled before sealcoating can be applied.
Will Sealcoating Make My Parking Lot Slippery?
If applied correctly, sealcoating should not make your commercial parking lot slippery. A primary benefit that sealcoating provides is enhanced traction to the surface, making it smoother for vehicles and pedestrians to travel over.
How Does Sealcoating Affect the Longevity of Asphalt?
Sealcoating provides a protective barrier against elements such as weather, which reduces wear and tear over time. As a routine, sealcoating can significantly extend the lifespan of a commercial parking lot.
Contact Dominion Paving For Your Commercial Parking Lot Sealcoating Needs
Don’t wait for potholes and cracks to pop up. Call Dominion Paving at (800) 728-3312 for expert commercial parking lot sealcoating services. As trusted pavers for over 40 years, our experienced experts understand the necessity of safe and functional parking for the daily hustle and bustle.
Regardless of the size of your parking lot, our team is equipped with the expertise and tools to deliver efficient and effective sealcoating with minimal disruption to your business operations.
Safeguard your parking lot by calling Dominion Paving and getting a quote today. Our paving experts provide premium sealcoating for business owners across Northern Virginia, Maryland, Eastern West Virginia, and the D.C Metro area.
