The first coat of the first time the
The pressure exerted by the squeegee forces the sealant into surface cracks and voids, creating a bond that is of higher quality while often yielding a smoother appearance. Sprayers provide better control of the amount of sealant used, making the application process more precise.
To apply the sealer, you will need a brush and a long-handled paint roller or squeegee. To save time and maximize coverage, we recommend using a long-handle paint roller that is 18” wide with a ⅜” nap roller.
Pump-up or low-pressure sprayers: These are best for applying one-part, solvent-based sealers with a solids content below 35%. Make sure to use a sprayer that can handle solvents, and clean out the sprayer with clean solvent to avoid clogging the lines.
Applying two coats of any sealer will dry and create a better finish much better than one thick coat. These sealers are water based, and they cure and form a film primarily during the evaporation of water from the coating. A thin coat will evaporate much faster and create a single uniform layer.
Cleaning asphalt for sealcoating includes removing debris from cracks. Use a long screwdriver or a wire brush to help you with this, or a gas blower is fast, easy and effective. Scrub the surface thoroughly. Using a hose, scrub brush, or a pressure washer, thoroughly scrub the area to be sealcoated.
Yes, you can use a standard pump garden sprayer to apply your sealant. Or at least, you can if you're applying a water-based sealer.
APPLYING TOO MUCH SEALER OR THE WRONG KIND OF SEALER
While slathering seal coat over asphalt in a thick layer can be tempting, a “more is better” approach is detrimental to the pavement beneath. Too much sealer can lead to premature cracking, which will shorten the lifespan of your driveway.
When applied under ideal conditions, you can walk on a sealcoated pavement three hours after application. But if you want to drive on it, then you have to wait a minimum of 12 hours for it to dry and cure.
Sealcoating a driveway without thoroughly cleaning it first would be like painting a dirty wall on your house. It might look fine on the surface, but underneath, bad things are happening. Applying a coating on top of agents that are harmful to your driveway means they are sealed in and continue doing their damage.
If the sealer is drying shiny and glossy, that's a very bad sign. Good quality asphalt sealer should dry a flat, black matte. Shiny is slippery and will not endure. To learn more about quality asphalt sealer click here.
Choosing an asphalt contractor who adds sand and additives to their sealer means better results for your asphalt surface. Some reasons for contractors not using sand and additives include: They do not own the proper equipment. They do not have an underbuilt agitation system.
Coal Tar based sealers have long been the gold standard for asphalt sealing durability.
The Drawbacks of Seal Coating
One is that it can be messy and difficult to apply evenly. It's also important to note that sealants will not repair significant damage to your driveway; they will only protect it from further damage. If your driveway is damaged, you'll need to have it repaired before sealcoating it.
Spraying is a much faster way to apply the sealer, and crews can cover larger lots and in a fraction of the time it takes to use a squeegee. However, with the faster spray method, there is a possibility that the crew may miss spots, and the overall application could be thinner.
How many coats of sealer should be applied? Low Traffic such as a typical home driveway, 1 coat is sufficient. Moderate Traffic on a parking lot, 2 coats with a third coat on the entrance and exits. Heavy Traffic 2 coats with a third coat on all travel lanes and roadways.
In some cases, a residential driveway will only need one coat of sealant. However, if the asphalt sealcoating has never been sealed before, it may take a second coat to give it the rich, deep finish that most homeowners prefer. A second coat may also be indicated if there is some “unraveling” of the asphalt.
Just as cold weather affect the integrity of sealcoating, so can excessively hot conditions. Temperatures above 95 degrees Fahrenheit can bake the sealcoat before the material properly adheres to the pavement. The binder used in many sealcoatings can melt at temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Rain can wash away all of the hard work that you put into your driveway. The sealer will be washed away by the rain if you don't wait long enough for it to dry. As a result, you'll end up with no sealant left on the interlocked driveway stones in Toronto or at the very least an uneven surface.
Solvent resistant pump-up sprayers are more suitable for solvent base sealers and can equally be used for water base sealers. These sprayers are equipped with Viton seals and gaskets and metal, brass or Teflon tips.
Q: How much water should I add per gallon? A: Over dilution of the pavement sealer dramatically decreases the life of the pavement coating. For optimum results, we recommend always adhering to an appropriate mix design. In general, we recommend the water dilution at 30-40%.
For summer application, with full sunlight exposure (that means no shaded areas and in the high heat of the day) you should be able to WALK on the asphalt within 2-4 hours. You can typically drive on sealed asphalt after 24 hours. However, we recommend giving it 48 hours, if possible, to be sure.