What Repairs Are Essential Before Sealcoating a Parking Lot?

With the heat and ultraviolet levels in the Las Vegas area, sealcoating a parking lot makes a lot of sense. Sealcoating helps prevent damage from vehicle fluids and UV rays, and they offer significant aesthetic benefits as well. However, it is extremely important to repair your parking lot before your contractor sealcoats it.

Why Is Asphalt Sealcoating Important for Parking Lots?

Sealcoating is a vital maintenance procedure if you want your parking lot to have a long life with the fewest major repairs possible. The sun dries out asphalt pavements, leaving them brittle and more prone to damage. Vehicle fluids leave soft and friable. Preventing the damage is more cost-effective than paying for numerous, repetitive asphalt crackfilling procedures or asphalt repairs. As a nice bonus, sealcoats can refresh the color of faded asphalt as well as help prevent fading, and they can give the surface a smoother appearance.

Why Are Repairs Necessary Before Sealcoating a Parking Lot?

Sealcoating are great products, but they cannot repair potholes, cracks, or other significant paving damage. Since they are liquid when your paving services contractor applies them, they will simply flow into pavement breaks without closing the openings. Furthermore, some types of damage will prevent the sealcoat from forming a strong bond with the pavement. If your contractor makes all necessary repairs first, your sealcoating should last around two years. If your contractor does not make the repairs, you could need a parking lot reseal within a few months or even a few weeks.

What Repairs Are Necessary Before Sealcoating a Parking Lot?

Basically, your contractor should repair any damage that will result in the useless waste of product. This includes addressing issues that could prevent bonding.

1. Asphalt Crackfilling: Your contractor should fill or seal any crack that is more than approximately a quarter of an inch wide or deep.
2. Asphalt Repair: Your contractor should patch or otherwise repair potholes, birdbaths, and alligator cracking. Any raveling also needs addressing.
3. Cleaning: Your contractor should remove puddles of vehicle fluids and clean the stains. If necessary, your contractor should apply a primer to the stains after cleaning them as well as is possible.

What Else Should I Know About Parking Lot Sealcoating?

Whether you need a parking lot reseal or an initial application, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

1. Sealcoating is extremely sensitive to weather conditions. There may be occasional days when the maintenance contractor providing your paving services cannot apply a sealcoat.
2. When you sealcoat your parking lot, you will need to reapply your painted markings afterward. Sealcoats are opaque, so they will obscure your current markings. Therefore, you might want to consider hiring a contractor who can provide both paving services.
3. If you have a sprinkler system, deactivate it at least 24 hours before your contractor plans to begin work. Do not reactivate it until at least 24 hours after your contractor completes the application.

When you need exceptional work at reasonable rates, contact Affordable Striping & Sealing. We specialize in the care and maintenance of asphalt parking lots for clients in the greater Las Vegas area. Our services include asphalt sealcoating, parking lot striping, asphalt crack repair, parking lot layout, traffic sign installation, road markings, and parking lot maintenance plans. We are known for our integrity, customer-centric focus, and consistently superior results. If you would like to request a free job quote, send an email to Estimating@AffordableStriping.com, submit our online form, or call 702-222-9009.