WHAT IS SEALCOATING ?
Sealcoating is a way of protection against the elements as well as oil and gasoline.  Sealcoating enhances the look of your Driveway/Parking Lot and prolongs the life of the asphalt.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I SEAL MY DRIVEWAY/ PARKING LOT ?
We recommend that you seal your Driveway/Parking Lot every other year.

DO WE APPLY THE SEALER WITH A SQUEEGEE OR WITH A SPRAY UNIT ?
We do 90% of our jobs with the spray unit. Its gives you a heavier coat of sealer with no squeegee marks. We will however do driveways by squeegee if you request.

HOW LONG SHOULD I STAY OFF MY DRIVEWAY AFTER THE APPLICATION OF SEALER ?
We suggest you wait 24 hours before driving on it. You can walk on it, when the driveway gives off a flat finish.

DOES SOUTHWEST SEALING OFFER A GUARANTEE ?
Yes we do, if you are not SATISFIED with the job, we will do what is necessary to make you happy.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO SEAL MY DRIVEWAY
The cost of driveways varies. We charge by the square foot and will give a very competitive price. Just give the office a call or fill out the form on the FREE QUOTE page and we will come out and give you a qoute on your driveway.

More On Seal Coating

In the effort to prolong the life of asphalt driveways or parking lots, seal coating is one of the most important aspects of asphalt maintenance. Seal coating is a cost-efficient way to ensure that a parking lot or driveway surface can withstand the rigors of weather, sunlight, petroleum leakage (oils and gasoline), salt, sand and water. Asphalt sealing compounds generally feature a coal-based tar or pitch or asphalt cement. Water, inert fillers, emulsifying agents and other additives are mixed in to either of these two ingredients to create a compound that can be applied in thin coats to any asphalt surface.

Benefits of Seal Coating

Seal coating benefits range from beautification to longer life. Pavement that has been sealed properly adds curb appeal to the home and can help increase its value. From a beautification standpoint, if the parking lot of a company has been seal coated it will generally present a more attractive face to potential customers than if the asphalt looks old, worn and cracked. Ultimately, seal coating protects asphalt surfaces by slowing the oxidation process and sealing against the damaging effects of water.

Small cracks and pock-marks in the surface of driveways or parking lots that have been sealed are less likely to expand or get larger due to the fact that water is not able to penetrate them and freeze, which causes the water to expand, thereby enlarging the cracks or holes.

Because coal tars are resistant to oil and gasoline, surfaces that have been seal coated are less likely to have visible stains or be broken down by the compounds in gas and oil. A further benefit of seal coating is that asphalt maintenance and cleaning is much easier.

In the winter, a seal coated surface is much easier to remove snow from, due to the fact that the seal coating fills chips and splits. This smoothes the asphalt surface and allows a shovel to slide quickly and easily across it.

In the summer, the dark black color of a seal coated parking lot will absorb a large amount of heat. This, in turn, makes the surface more pliable. Because of this pliability the surface of the parking lot is able to withstand the heavy amounts of traffic that run across it.

The smooth surface provided by seal coating also makes it much easier when it comes time to do parking lot striping. Not only does the paint go on smoothly, it also takes fewer coats and the highly reflective paints used to stripe parking lots shows up much better against the beautiful, deep black of a freshly sealed surface.

The parking lots that surround restaurants are often the victims of leaky dumpsters that spent deep-fryer oils are dumped into. This oil then seeps into the pavement and breaks it down over time. However, if the surface has been seal coated, the oil and gunk can easily be washed away. These same parking lots will also withstand the impact of the high-pressure power washers and cleaning chemicals that are used to wash dumpsters and cooking equipment.

Asphalt drives and parking lots are expensive to repair. Since the compounds used in asphalt surfaces are petroleum based, the cost of these supplies is impacted by the price of oil. Maintaining a lot or driveway by sealing it regularly can protect the owner from preventable costs associated with their repair.

Crack Sealing

Aside from sealing the surface of a driveway or parking lot, crack sealing is the first level of protection against the deterioration of asphalt. Done correctly, crack sealing will prevent water from seeping into the foundation of the drive, which will keep the crack from widening further during extreme cold weather. The edges of the cracks will also be protected from unnecessary wear from water, stones, dirt and sand when they are filled and sealed. Ultimately, sealing and filling cracks will help prevent their growth.

Much like maintaining a driveway or parking lot with sealant, cracks must also be taken care of. Cracks that are allowed to grow and multiply will ultimately degrade the surface of a driveway or lot twice as fast as one that has been well maintained. Ultimately, as a business-owner or homeowner, you will save money by not having to make costly repairs.

Types of Cracks

Cracks are divided into several categories. Three of the most common are Reflective, Block, and Edge. Reflective cracks normally appear when an asphalt driveway or parking lot is resurfaced. Cracks that are not taken care of and are part of the underlying asphalt that is being resurfaced will show through the new asphalt and eventually cause cracks to form in the new surface.

Block cracks form a criss-cross pattern, which results in a square design. This generally occurs on parking lots that see very little traffic. On lots or driveways with normal traffic, the tires of the vehicles constantly reshape the somewhat pliable surface of the asphalt. This keeps it flexible which results in less cracking.

Edge cracking runs parallel to the edge of the asphalt surface. The usual suspects that cause edge cracking are: poor foundation or base, weak shoulder support, freezing and insufficient water drainage.

Pavement Marking and Parking Lot Striping

For many customers, the first thing they see when coming to a place of business is the parking lot. A well-maintained parking lot presents a positive face for the business. Pavement marking and parking lot striping also provide the same benefit. Well-marked lots help traffic flow and the contrast between the parking stall stripes and the pavement is, quite simply, beautiful. Parking lots that are striped properly are also much safer for customers.

Overall, the importance of a well-maintained driveway or parking lot is easy to see. The beauty and newness that sealing and painting give to a lot is enhanced by the savings that occur when a lot or driveway is taken care of properly. Thus, the importance of pavement management is not only for beautification, but also the bottom-line.