Sealcoating is an essential protective measure for your asphalt pavement. Pretty much as soon as your pavement is laid, the oxidation process begins, oil and water can begin seeping into the pores and slowly erode the asphalt, and the extreme fluctuations in the Toronto temperature cause it to weaken and crumble. Sealcoating helps to prevent and slow these processes to give your pavement a longer lifespan and greater structural stability.
Before you hire an asphalt contractor in Toronto to perform the sealcoating, it is important that you understand the process a bit better so that you can ask the right questions to ensure the job is done right. Here are the questions you need to ask:
What Planning Needs to be Done before Sealcoating?
Experienced asphalt contractors know that proper planning is needed for effective sealcoating. If the right conditions are not met, the coating will not adhere properly or provided the needed protection.
You and your contractor should plan the project around the expected temperature and climate conditions, what time of day or days of the week the pavement will have the most traffic, and what materials will be best for your pavement based on how much traffic it gets, the local climate, and your budget.
What Preparation Has to be Done?
The asphalt also has to be prepared before the sealcoating can be applied. To start, it has to cure properly. You cannot sealcoat asphalt that has just been laid. You must wait at least 30 to 60 days for the asphalt to cure before you can apply the sealcoating.
You must also assess the asphalt to determine what repairs need to be made first. Sealcoating cannot be put on over cracks, holes, and other damage. You must fill these areas and repair them. Once the asphalt is in good shape, you’ll then have to clean it and remove any debris before moving forward.
Ask your contractor about the process for repairing the asphalt and what techniques or materials will be used to repair any damage.
How Will the Project be Managed?
Your Toronto asphalt contractor will need to put up barriers, control traffic, and protect the work area while the sealcoating is being applied. Make sure you ask how the project will be managed to handle all these variables.
You’ll also need to ask how many coats will be used for the project. Most experts recommend at least two coats for ultimate protection.
What Steps Must be Taken after Coating is Complete?
The sealcoating has to have proper time to dry and cure, just like the asphalt itself. Otherwise, the sealcoating will weaken and leave the asphalt vulnerable. The consequences will be more serious since you’ll be behaving as if the asphalt is protected when it is not.
The right asphalt contractor will be able to plan the sealcoating process properly so that the job is completed and the asphalt is ready to use within hours. You won’t have to put your business on hold for many hours, and you will have minimal inconvenience to yourself, your workers, or your customers. You’ll also get a solid coating that will provide real protection to your pavement for years to come. That will protect the look of your asphalt, as well, and it will save you money on potential repairs down the road.
Toronto Pavings provides sealcoating services throughout Toronto. We help protect both residential driveways and commercial roads and parking lots. Our complete asphalt services include paving, patching, crack filling, and other repairs. With expert repair from one of our asphalt contractors, your pavement will get years added to its lifespan, saving you a lot of money in the long run. Our contractors also install accessory items that improve the safety and functionality of your pavement, such as striping and parking bumpers. Check out our online reviews to see what our customers are saying and then call us for a free estimate and experience the customer service that makes us the best in Toronto.