Laying Down the Pavement

What Harms Your Parking Lot & Why Sealcoating Can Fix It

14 July 2021 by Clifton Sullivan

When you have an asphalt parking lot, you will want to get it sealcoated every few years. Sealcoating helps protect against asphalt deterioration and can help delay the replacement process for your asphalt as well.

Things That Harm Your Asphalt

Your asphalt may look like it is just sitting there, minding its own business, but the truth is, throughout each day and year, lots of forces are at play harming and wearing down your asphalt.

The Sun

One of the most significant sources of harm to your asphalt is the sun. The sun helps pull the oils out of the asphalt, essentially drying it out. The oils are what make the material flexible and allow your parking lot to adjust when a heavy vehicle drives over it or the foundation moves. Every day, the sun works to reduce the overall flexibility of your asphalt.

The Earth

All the time, the earth is shifting, just a little bit at a time. As the earth shifts, your parking lot needs to shift as well. To adjust to the flex of the earth, the asphalt has to be flexible. When the asphalt loses its flexibility and the earth shifts, it can crack.

The Water

One of the most damaging things to your asphalt is water. Water likes to get in through the cracks and pores of the asphalt. As the water makes its way through, it can erode the underlying foundation. If it freezes outside, the water can crack the surface of your parking lot.

The Traffic

Finally, all the everyday traffic can stress out your asphalt, and the leaving oils and gases from the traffic can eat away at the surface.

All of these things that harm your parking lot are unavoidable. You can't stop the sun from shining or the dirt from shifting. That is why you need to sealcoat your parking lot.

How Sealcoating Helps Your Asphalt

The solution to all things that harm your parking lot is sealcoating. By sealcoating your parking lot a few times a year, you can protect it from the things that harm it. Sealcoating helps your parking lot in a variety of ways.

Adds Oils

First, when you sealcoat your parking lot, you add oils back into the surface of the parking lot that the sun takes away. Those oils will keep your asphalt flexible, which will help it shift with the shifting soil and protect against cracks.

Creates a Smoother Surface

Second, when you sealcoat your parking lot, you can create a smooth surface. This will make your parking lot look more appealing and will make it easier to repair.

Visual Appeal

Third, sealcoating your parking lot will enhance its visual appeal. Your parking lot will look brand new when it gets a nice layer. This will make your building look newer and improve your business's curb appeal.

Increase Flexibility

Fourth, your parking lot will be more flexible, which will help protect it from damage. It will be less likely to crack and get damaged.

When it comes to your parking lot, everyday things such as sun, water, and traffic can wear down your parking lot. Luckily, sealcoating can help protect against this damage, and any asphalt company can take care of this task for you. Contact a local asphalt paving service to learn more.

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