Can Asphalt Sealcoating Make The Pavement Slippery?

If you’ve ever applied sealant to wood furniture, then you might associate the process with creating a smooth, slick texture. While this is typically the desired effect for wood products, things are much different when it comes to asphalt pavement where a slippery surface can lead to serious accidents. Asphalt sealcoating shouldn’t make the pavement slippery, and there are several key things to know about the process that contractors use to make sure there is the right amount of traction for driver safety.

What Goes Into Asphalt Sealcoating?

The sealant that sealcoating companies use for protecting asphalt pavement comes in a concentrated form that contractors then mix with other materials to create the final solution for application. Water and sand are the two primary ingredients that a sealcoating contractor will add to the sealant, and they may also include additives to generate desired effects such as increased oil and gas resistance or a darker color.

What Are the Benefits of Sand and Additives?

Treasure Coast asphalt sealcoating is designed to help pavement stand up to the constant beating it takes from the sun, rain and heavy traffic. Adding sand into the mix helps to create more traction that prevents accidents, and the fine particles of silica help to fill in tiny cracks so that water and automotive fluids can’t get inside.

The additives that go into asphalt paving lot sealcoating, such as latex, help to increase durability and flexibility in the top coat. They also help to decrease the drying time for asphalt paving when it is preferable to minimize downtime on a busy parking lot or road.

How Do Contractors Know the Right Ratio for Mixing an Asphalt Sealcoat?

Creating the right sealcoat mix design for specific purposes is a point of pride for reputable contractors. The majority of the time, a contractor can simply follow the manufacturer’s instructions for mixing the sealcoat based upon the characteristics of the property. The level of traffic, age of the pavement and exposure to the elements all play a role in the amount of sand, water and additives we use in the mix.

Contractors also know that keeping the solid materials properly suspended in the liquid solution is critical for creating a long-lasting sealcoat. You’ll want to be on the lookout for signs that a contractor uses the best practices for sealcoating, such as using a drum to keep the solution agitated. Quality contractors also avoid trying to stretch the product by adding too much water or less sand, which can reduce the protective qualities of the sealcoat and decrease the traction.

Work With a Company That Prioritizes Safety

Asphalt Care is a sealcoating company that invests in quality seal coat products that give our customers the right amount of traction for their pavement to prevent accidents. Before sealcoating, you’ll want to plan for any asphalt paving or asphalt repair needs along with any other additional parking lot maintenance. After the sealcoat dries, then we’ll help you with thermoplastic line striping, concrete bumpers, speed bump installation and traffic signage to enhance the increased safety that our parking lot line striping provides. Give us a call today at 772-773-6216, fill out our online form, or email us at [email protected] to receive a free quote that includes everything you need for a long-lasting sealcoating!