Asphalt is such a versatile material that it is an ideal choice for a wide variety of Austin pavements. From parking lots to playgrounds, asphalt has become the most popular paving material in North America for several reasons, including its economical cost, visual appeal, and speed of installation. Furthermore, with proactive maintenance, an asphalt pavement can last for several decades before it must be reconstructed. However, if you want to get the most out of your investment in asphalt, you really need to stay on top of your preventive maintenance. Two essential maintenance procedures that every asphalt pavement needs are timely crack repairs and asphalt sealcoating. Although you might need to repair cracks at any time, it is best to have your contractor inspect your pavement every spring and autumn so that they can be mended before the damage gets worse, but you probably do not need sealcoating applied more than every other year. Because sealcoat is a weather-sensitive product, the long interval between applications should give you plenty of time to schedule your work when temperatures and humidity levels allow the best results.
What Role Does the Temperature Play for Asphalt Sealcoating?
Asphalt seal coating mixes contain a great deal of water, and this water has to be evaporated for the sealant to form a hard shell that is securely bonded to the pavement. Anything that slows down the rate of evaporation also slows down the curing, and anything that expedites evaporation also expedites curing. Therefore, when sealcoating parking lots, contractors prefer temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and they are seldom willing to apply asphalt paving lot sealcoating unless the temperature is at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit. However, once the temperature goes above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, the excessive heat typically requires sealcoating companies to take additional steps to prevent the sealant from drying too rapidly.
What Role Does the Humidity Play for Asphalt Sealcoating?
The humidity plays an important role in the evaporation process. The lower the humidity is, the easier it is for water molecules to escape from the sealcoating mix, and the higher the humidity is, the harder it is for them to escape. Texas paving companies prefer sealcoating Austin TX pavements when the relative humidity is less than 50%. However, because humidity and temperature both relate to evaporation efficiency, the colder it is, the lower the humidity level needs to be. At extreme humidity levels, temperatures may need to exceed 50 degrees Fahrenheit to achieve a successful sealcoating application. However, when the temperature is excessive, high humidity levels can help slow down evaporation, thereby helping to avoid a potentially ruinous event known as flash drying. Therefore, extreme humidity levels can either help or hinder asphalt seal coating contractors.
When You Need Exceptional Craftsmanship at Competitive Rates, Contact RDC Paving
RDC Paving is a well-respected asphalt paving company serving commercial and residential clients throughout Austin and Central Texas. We offer an extensive list of paving services, including sealcoating, asphalt paving, pothole repair, asphalt overlays, concrete curbing, asphalt milling, concrete repair, parking lot striping, asphalt driveway paving, parking lot maintenance, and asphalt crack repair. We are known for our outstanding customer service and extraordinary workmanship. Call 512-920-9155 to request a free quote, or submit the online form.