Parking lot contractors — man, what a greedy bunch. You’re already paying them for a big, black, beautiful new parking lot, and then they come back to you with their “recommendation” for a sealcoating as well. Isn’t it just outrageous that they’re trying to sell you on this useless add-on?
Well, here’s some news for you: sealcoating isn’t as useless as you think. In fact, it’s one of the most cost-effective ways to safeguard the quality and condition of that new parking lot you just paid for. There are a number of reasons parking lot contractors are so insistent on pushing for you to add a sealcoat, and they’re all important.
How the Magic Works
A sealcoat certainly sounds like magic, doesn’t it? The truth is that it’s not magic so much as it’s science. When you sealcoat asphalt, it provides an invisible protective layer that acts like sunscreen, preventing ultraviolet radiation from getting too deep and giving your parking lot the equivalent of a sunburn.
While a human sunburn is a painful but temporary nuisance, asphalt can’t heal itself. Damage done accumulates, and when combined with water penetration causes cracks and potholes that slowly grow to destroy your entire lot. Lucky for you sealcoating provides a tough barrier that also prevents water penetration as well as UV protection.
Sealcoating Preserves that Brand-New Look
Everyone loves the look of a brand-new asphalt parking lot. There’s nothing quite like that shade of deep, rich, almost glossy black; it’s handsome and striking, and a new parking lot adds some serious curb appeal to whatever business it’s attached to.
The problem is that deep black doesn’t last very long. Between weather and use, that black fades quickly to gray — that is, unless, you choose to sealcoat. Sealcoating keeps your parking lot looking crisp and clean, and each application can last you anywhere between 3 to 5 years depending on your lot conditions. As far as protecting the curb appeal of your investment, sealcoating is a no-brainer.
Sealcoating Keeps Your Parking Lot Safer
Sealcoating does more than keep things looking pretty, though. In fact, a good sealcoat can keep your parking lot safer for both vehicles and pedestrians alike, especially when it comes to times of inclement weather.
Asphalt already does relatively well when it comes to dealing with water in the warmer months. However, when the weather turns cold even the smallest bit of water can turn to ice, making your lot potentially dangerous to walk or drive on. Yet sealcoated parking lots are naturally resistant to ice and snow, accelerating their melting and preventing dangerous build-up.
Sealcoating Reduces Your Maintenance Costs
Finally — and most importantly — parking lot contractors love to recommend sealcoating because it reduces your long-term maintenance and repair costs. Thanks to how a sealcoat protects your pavement against all sorts of damage, your parking lot will last longer before needing any sort of maintenance. Additionally, the type of maintenance you need is more likely to be minor, needing little attention in terms of repair.
So what does sealcoating protect against? The better question is really what doesn’t it do! Sealcoating is a comprehensive protection option, as it prevents damage caused by chemical spills, motor oil, oxidation, and damage caused by water penetration from rain, snow, and frost. This protection, in addition to its safety and aesthetic uses, makes sealcoating one of the best ways to protect your investment.
In other words, remember all this when parking lot contractors suggest a sealcoat for your new parking lot. A sealcoat can make all the difference!