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Welcome to First Rate Sealcoat, Inc. |
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Mother Nature can wreak havoc on your asphalt pavement. If left untreated, water
permeates the cracks in your asphalt, which leads to premature deterioration.
Did you know that the cost of replacing your pavement has increased by more than
40% in just the past five years? |
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How does Sealcoating help? |
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Sealcoat seals the asphalt pavement, preventing the
oxidation and erosion of the top layer of asphalt. On older pavements
Sealcoating replaces fine particles lost from the asphalt surface due to
oxidation. Sealcoat seals the small cracks that can turn into large cracks and
prevents water from seeping down to the base material. Sealcoat helps protect
the asphalt from the sun as well as the harmful effects of chemical spills such
as oil and gasoline. Sealcoating provides an attractive black surface that is
ideal for painting lines and other markers. It also leaves a smooth, clean
surface ideal for sweeping, lowering cleaning costs. Sealcoat costs pennies per
square foot compared to the dollars needed to repair or replace damaged asphalt. |
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What is Sealcoat? |
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Sealcoat is a mixture of emulsified asphalt, water, mineral fillers, and
various other mixtures. Sealcoats are applied directly to the surface of an
asphalt pavement. It can be applied by rubber squeegee, broom, or mechanical
spray. Sealcoat serves to seal the top of the asphalt, preventing water from
penetrating the surface of the pavement and protecting the top layer of asphalt
from oxidation and wear caused by exposure to the sun and air. Sealcoat also
beautifies the pavement by providing a smooth, black, and even surface ideal for
painting lines and sweeping. Sealcoat is designed for off highway use where
there are low traffic speeds and tight turning radiuses such as parking lots,
mobile home parks, schools, shoulders, etc. Sealcoats are different from slurry
seals which use a much coarser aggregate filler and are designed for use on high
speed areas with straight rolling traffic. |
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What Causes Asphalt Pavement to Fail? |
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Assuming that the initial asphalt pavement was designed and constructed
properly, the primary cause of failure is the penetration of water into the
asphalt base. Oxidation of the pavement surface begins this process which caused
the asphalt to dry and become brittle. This oxidation leads to the erosion of
the top layer of fine particles and the appearance of larger stones and small
cracks on the surface. If left untreated, these cracks grow over time and
eventually allow water to penetrate to the base of the pavement. When water
enters the base of the pavement, the base material moves and settles leading to
further cracking and an "alligator appearance." When the pavement reaches this
stage the only option is removal and replacement of the old asphalt, which costs
the most. In short, your Asphalt Pavement will fail because of AIR & WATER,
unless you are proactive to maintain the surface & extend the life of the
asphalt. Like Death & Taxes, Air & Water are unavoidable to your asphalt
pavement. Whatever the condition of your Asphalt Pavement is, if you want to
keep your overall costs down, you will need to implement a plan to maintain your
asphalt pavement before it has to be replaced! |
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When Should Sealcoating be Done? |
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Generally you should wait a few months before sealing new pavement to
allow it time to cure. CPM recommends waiting 6-12 months before Sealcoating new
pavement. After a surface has been sealed it should be re-sealed every 3 - 4
years or as necessary. |