Thick vs. Thin Sealcoating Layers

March 11, 2021 Published by Leave your thoughts

If you own a property in Phoenix, AZ with an asphalt driveway or parking lot, you’ve probably heard about the importance of sealcoating. Staying on top of this form of preventative maintenance will help you extend the life of your pavement, and also keep the surface looking highly attractive and rich in color.

Most owners of residential and commercial properties with asphalt surfaces will hire contractors to take on sealcoating work for them. It’s a common request from people who are unfamiliar with sealcoating and asphalt maintenance to have the contractor layer on the sealant thickly, but any reputable contractor should refuse to do the job in this manner. Sealcoating should never be applied in a single thick layer, but rather in two or more thin layers if you are to get the highest-quality, longest-lasting results. Read on to find out why.

Why thin coating layers work better

You need a basic understanding of how sealants work if you’re to understand why it’s important to not glob on the sealant too thick during installation in Phoenix, AZ.

Sealcoating is applied in a liquid form that, when it dries, creates a sort of hard shell that protects the surface of your pavement. As a liquid, the drying process requires evaporation of the moisture for the sealant to properly cure and form that shell. When applied too thick, the evaporation will not occur properly or evenly, which means the moisture could remain in the sealant and prevent the formation of that hard shell.

The longer it takes for the sealant to dry, the more uneven the curing will be, meaning the sealant will not properly bond with the pavement and it will quickly degrade, starting to crack or flake almost immediately after you begin allowing traffic on top of it. This results in your pavement not having the protection from sealcoating, and basically means you threw away whatever money you spent on the shoddy work.

It’s crucial that you install the sealant in such a way that the hard shell can form on the surface. This shell protects the pavement from oil and gas spills and various other chemicals and substances that might wind up on top of it, or be applied, such as deicing agents. It also provides protection against the elements, like snow, ice, sunlight and rain, and helps to prevent tire and power steering marks. Without the formation of that hard shell, the sealcoating is essentially useless, providing little more than an aesthetic benefit. And even that aesthetic benefit doesn’t last long, if the sealant is only going to come up as soon as people start driving on it.

Therefore, it’s important that you follow all the manufacturer’s instructions when applying sealant, or work with a true professional who understands that sealant must be applied in multiple thin coats for the best results.

To learn more about thick vs. thin sealcoating layers and what else you should know about the tasks associated with ongoing asphalt maintenance in Phoenix, AZ, contact Sunstar Seal Coating, Inc. with any questions.

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