When you own a commercial business, you must maintain the property’s exterior and interior. As far as the outdoor property is concerned, curb appeal starts with the driveway or parking lot. New asphalt always looks beautiful, makes your business stand out, and creates a positive first impression for potential customers. However, over time, that asphalt tends to lose its sheen.
Heavy traffic in the driveway or parking lot, serious storms, and other severe weather wreak havoc on the asphalt. Line striping starts to fade, cracks begin to develop, and eventually, the asphalt breaks down altogether. Crack filling can take care of the large cracks that appear, but you may need to consider investing in commercial sealcoating for your driveway or parking lot.
What Is Commercial Sealcoating?
Commercial sealcoating is a process that is designed to restore the shine and brightness of your asphalt while also eliminating hairline fractures through crack sealing. It can be done for any commercial property such as a condominium complex, hotel lot, driveway for a shopping mall, and many other locations. Property managers should consider sealcoating as a part of pavement maintenance.
Rather than having a new driveway or parking lot laid or investing in the resurfacing process, a business owner can first get a free estimate for sealcoating and learn about the benefits of this process. It can be much more cost-effective because it prevents driveways and parking lots from needing full resurfacing, even in more extreme climates like Rochester, NY.
What Is Involved in the Process of Sealcoating an Asphalt Driveway?
Commercial sealcoating is a complicated process that takes time and the right equipment to be done correctly. An expert sealcoating contractor should be hired to complete the job effectively and efficiently so that you do not have to have it done again before the appropriate time.
The process involves the following steps:
- Trimming the perimeter of the parking lot, if necessary
- Cleaning the entire surface with high-powered blowers, power brooms, and commercial-grade wire brooms to remove dust, debris, dirt, and stones that may interfere with the sealing process
- Treating all gas and oil stains with oil spot primer
- Sealing with the highest quality commercial sealer purchased directly from the manufacturer
- Applying pavement markings once the sealer is completely dry
It is important to remember that tiny cracks in the asphalt can lead to significant problems, so sealcoating every year or two can help you save money in the long run.
Signs Your Parking Lot or Other Asphalt Surface Needs Seal Coating
The most common signs that your asphalt parking lot or driveway needs sealcoating are:
Loss of Color
It is important to remember that your asphalt is exposed to every type of weather that we experience here in Rochester, New York. Your asphalt can withstand anything from harsh sun UV rays to bitter cold outside. The sun and other weather patterns work to break down the surface of the asphalt, and it will begin to lose its color and sheen. You are on the road to more severe paving issues when this happens.
Crack Filling Is No Longer Working
When there are small cracks in the asphalt, they can generally be filled in with hot rubberized crack sealant. However, when cracks become too large to be filled in anymore, and you see that more have developed, it is time to consider sealcoating.
Severe Deterioration of the Asphalt
If you have something like potholes appearing in your parking lot, it is time to take action to prevent more serious issues with the lot as well as potential damage to the cars of your customers and employees. Get the potholes filled in, and then call Northeastern Paving & Sealcoating to have sealcoating completed.
Driveway or Parking Lot Holds Water
Your driveway or parking lot should not be holding water. Instead, it should allow the water to flow freely down the street. Keeping water can create slippery conditions if it retains moisture, and that water could potentially penetrate the asphalt itself and lead to more cracks and potholes.
How Often Do You Sealcoat Parking Lots in Rochester, NY?
A few different factors determine the lifespan of your parking lot. The daily foot and vehicle traffic on the asphalt will affect how fast the sealer will wear away. Also, the quality of the sealer, the amount applied, and the number of coats applied should be considered when re-applying a sealcoat. Finally, your location will also make a difference in the driveway’s appearance. The cold winter and hot summer weather of Rochester, New York, will affect the good condition of the driveway in Monroe County. Contact Northeastern Paving & Sealcoating at 585-544-4372 to schedule service today!
