A new asphalt parking lot can be quite an investment for your business or property! The most important thing you can do to help preserve the brand-new asphalt is to generate a pavement preservation plan. This should include items such as planning for regular maintenance, a plan for when damage happens, along with a schedule for sealcoating your parking lot.
Many property managers and business owners often ask “When should you sealcoat the parking lot after it is installed?”
While immediate sealcoating is not necessary, you will want to do it sooner than later. To help you understand why sealcoating is important and when is the best time to complete it, Toste Construction is here today!
So, how long after a new parking lot is installed, should the asphalt be sealcoated?
Industry standards say the asphalt should undergo its first sealcoat application 12-18 months after its installation is complete. The initial installation will suffice for the first year to a year and a half in terms of protecting the asphalt. However, as minor cracking starts to happen or small potholes form, it is time for sealcoating.
Once a parking lot is sealed for the first time, it should be completed again at least every three to five years. You will want to examine the traffic distribution, vehicle weight, and weather patterns to know when it is best for your asphalt sealcoating schedule. Also, having a professional examine your parking lot three years after installation will give you an idea of whether you are closer to the three-year mark or five.
Long-term Benefits of Sealcoating
Extend Lifespan
As we said earlier, a new asphalt parking lot is quite the investment so getting the most out of it will help justify the large expense. Regular sealcoating will help extend the lifespan of a new parking lot. With proper maintenance, an asphalt parking lot can last upwards of 30 years! Be sure to ask your local sealcoating contractor what is best for your specific parking lot and how to best care for it to extend its lifespan.
Prevent Extensive Damage
Sealcoating an asphalt parking lot can help prevent extensive damage. By applying the thin layer of sealant to the asphalt, the binder that is frequently lost through weathering and aging will be replenished. By restoring this essential binder, you are strengthening the asphalt and preventing it from buckling.
Additionally, adding this layer of sealant will provide a barrier to moisture intrusion as well as UV rays, chemicals, and salt. All of these items can be especially damaging to asphalt and cause extensive damage if it is not treated. Water can easily find its way into the lower layers of a parking lot and form cracks or potholes. The longer these items are left untreated, the worse the damage will be.
Brings Back The Color
A brand new parking lot comes with a rich, black color. Many business owners and property managers find this rich color to be appealing and provide a very clean look. By sealcoating a parking lot, this dark color is restored.
Keep in mind that sealcoating will require fresh lines to be painted as well. By sealcoating your pavement, you will have a brand new-looking parking lot that is very appealing to clients and customers alike.
In Need Of Asphalt Sealcoating?
If you are looking for an asphalt sealcoating professional in the greater Lake Norman area, contact Toste Construction. Our team has been providing quality services to the area for over a decade and is here to serve you, no matter the size of your parking lot! Call our office today to have a member of our team assess your lot and provide you with a FREE estimate for all repairs and sealcoating.
Toste Construction specializes in sealcoating and crack filling to ensure you and your customers have a smooth surface to drive on. We are your Mooresville asphalt and pavement maintenance company. Our services include asphalt sealcoating, striping, patching, pothole repair and crack filling for both residential and commercial projects throughout western North Carolina.