Finding a sealcoating contractor that will do a good job is very
important these days. There are so many people in this service business
these days it is best for you to learn everything you can about
sealcoating to find the most qualified. Your asphalt is a very
significant investment when it comes to your residential property or
business, you want the best, for the best price.
You need to know: 1. Make sure they are not fly-by-nighter contractors (Gypsies).
These contractors will offer you discount deals, claiming they are saving you a lot of money. Most of the time these guys are putting down nothing but black water. They will dilute the asphalt sealer considerable with water. There is also a safety factor when dealing with these individuals. There have been cases where these guys have charged older people $1000.00, when the job would usually only cost $150.00. Ask for business card, website, office number, or a reference.
2. Know what type asphalt sealer your contractor will be using for your asphalt.
There are basically two types of asphalt sealer used today, one is water based sealer and another is coal-tar based. The coal-tar is longer lasting and able to protect the asphalt better against certain elements (rain, snow, ice, sun, antifreeze). Most water base sealers you can find in hardware stores such as Lowes and Home Depot. Coal tar sealers can be found from commercial sealer contractors, and your local hardware stores carry a few brands in 5 gallon buckets. You can seal coat your driveway yourself but don't expect to get the sand mixed in the sealer like contractors use. To do this you need a large tank to mix the sand and sealer together like sealcoating contractor's use. The sand gives the sealer a more textured surface keeping the asphalt from being so slippery when it's wet. It also allows the asphalt sealer to last longer.
3. Know what type of sealer applications your contractor is going to use.
These are two basic applications for applying asphalt sealer. The first is using a squeegee and applying the entire surface by hand. This is also how home owner's apply sealer their selves. The second application is having the sealer in a holding tank and pumped out of the tank through a hose and sprayed out of a nozzle tip onto the asphalt. This spray application is done twice for two strong even coats. Using the tank, an agitator is sometimes used to mix sand with the sealer.
4. Know if the asphalt sealer fix's the cracks.
Only hairline cracks can be filled with asphalt sealer. You can have the larger cracks filled with crack filler. Alligator cracks need to be sawed and cut out, then replace and rolled with new asphalt. Do not let your sealcoating contractor apply sealer to any new asphalt that is under ninety days old. New asphalt needs time to cure before applying sealer.
5. What kind of Preparation work is involved in sealcoating.
The first thing your contractor will do is broom and blow off your entire asphalt surface. This will get any grass or dirt off the surface that will be keeping the sealer from sticking to the asphalt. Next if there are any oil spots that are not saturated into the asphalt more than 3/8, a primer will be added to the oil spot so the sealer will stick. Then all is left is to apply the asphalt sealer to the surface.
You need to know: 1. Make sure they are not fly-by-nighter contractors (Gypsies).
These contractors will offer you discount deals, claiming they are saving you a lot of money. Most of the time these guys are putting down nothing but black water. They will dilute the asphalt sealer considerable with water. There is also a safety factor when dealing with these individuals. There have been cases where these guys have charged older people $1000.00, when the job would usually only cost $150.00. Ask for business card, website, office number, or a reference.
2. Know what type asphalt sealer your contractor will be using for your asphalt.
There are basically two types of asphalt sealer used today, one is water based sealer and another is coal-tar based. The coal-tar is longer lasting and able to protect the asphalt better against certain elements (rain, snow, ice, sun, antifreeze). Most water base sealers you can find in hardware stores such as Lowes and Home Depot. Coal tar sealers can be found from commercial sealer contractors, and your local hardware stores carry a few brands in 5 gallon buckets. You can seal coat your driveway yourself but don't expect to get the sand mixed in the sealer like contractors use. To do this you need a large tank to mix the sand and sealer together like sealcoating contractor's use. The sand gives the sealer a more textured surface keeping the asphalt from being so slippery when it's wet. It also allows the asphalt sealer to last longer.
3. Know what type of sealer applications your contractor is going to use.
These are two basic applications for applying asphalt sealer. The first is using a squeegee and applying the entire surface by hand. This is also how home owner's apply sealer their selves. The second application is having the sealer in a holding tank and pumped out of the tank through a hose and sprayed out of a nozzle tip onto the asphalt. This spray application is done twice for two strong even coats. Using the tank, an agitator is sometimes used to mix sand with the sealer.
4. Know if the asphalt sealer fix's the cracks.
Only hairline cracks can be filled with asphalt sealer. You can have the larger cracks filled with crack filler. Alligator cracks need to be sawed and cut out, then replace and rolled with new asphalt. Do not let your sealcoating contractor apply sealer to any new asphalt that is under ninety days old. New asphalt needs time to cure before applying sealer.
5. What kind of Preparation work is involved in sealcoating.
The first thing your contractor will do is broom and blow off your entire asphalt surface. This will get any grass or dirt off the surface that will be keeping the sealer from sticking to the asphalt. Next if there are any oil spots that are not saturated into the asphalt more than 3/8, a primer will be added to the oil spot so the sealer will stick. Then all is left is to apply the asphalt sealer to the surface.
Nick Deal - is a owner of a asphalt company in the southeast. Find a Sealcoating Contractor [http://www.sealcoatingasphalt.com]
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