What Is the Best Weather for Sealcoating in Florida?
For many years, virtually every sealcoating contractor in Florida has urged customers to have their new pavements sealed within 12 months of installation, then follow up with new applications every two years or so. Pavement sealing helps ensure a long, healthy life for asphalt parking lots and other pavements, and sealants also enhance the pavement’s appearance. However, sealants are notoriously sensitive to the weather. Therefore, sealant manufacturers specify ideal weather conditions as well as a range of tolerable conditions.
What Is the Best Weather for Sealcoating in Florida?
What Are the Ideal Weather Conditions for Asphalt Sealcoating?
An ideal day for sealing an asphalt pavement would be one without a cloud in the sky. The temperature would be 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and the relative humidity level would not exceed 50%. There would be a slight breeze of around 5 mph; if the wind is too strong, the application can be uneven, but too little wind can significantly slow the water’s evaporation in the sealant. The pavement should be dry before the sealant is applied, and there should be no chance of rain for the next 24 hours.
What Are the Acceptable Tolerances for Applying an Asphalt Sealant?
If you have lived in Florida for more than a month or two, you probably noticed that there are few days when an asphalt sealcoating contractor will encounter ideal weather conditions for sealing an asphalt pavement. Instead, they typically focus on finding days on which the weather conditions fall within acceptable ranges. The absolute minimum temperature is around 50 degrees. Most contractors will hesitate to sealcoat at temperatures above 90 degrees unless it is possible to cool down the pavement before starting the application. Contractors can often compensate for wind speed and humidity level, but they cannot work around the no-rain requirement. Furthermore, the degree to which a contractor can compensate for one weather condition depends on the other conditions. For example, the temperature might be 50 degrees, but if the humidity is 80%, the day is overcast, or the wind is nonexistent, it might not be advisable to apply a sealant.
How Can a Parking Lot Maintenance Contractor Possibly Schedule a Job in Advance?
Contractors keep a very close eye on both the immediate and extended weather forecasts. However, one of the first things that contractors learn about pavement sealing in Florida is that they need to be flexible. No one can guarantee that the weather will be cooperative next month or even next week. For example, a tropical storm that meteorologists would track northward and weaken might suddenly veer to the west and strengthen into a hurricane. Reputable contractors do their best to keep to their schedules, but it may sometimes be necessary to change the plan if the job is successful. The only contractors who will guarantee that your sealant will be applied in any weather on a specific date are dishonest, extremely inexperienced, or unjustifiably optimistic.
When You Need Great Parking Lot Maintenance, You Need Asphalt Care Services
At Asphalt Care Services, we offer asphalt repairs, sealcoating, parking lot striping, traffic signs, speed bumps, concrete bollards, asphalt paving, bumper blocks, and thermoplastic line striping. We serve businesses, homeowner associations, and homeowners in many South Florida counties. Our reputation as an parking lot maintenance and paving company is unmatched, our references are impeccable, and our dedication to customer satisfaction is exemplary. To request your free quote, submit the online form. If you would rather call us, we have two offices to serve you. For the Palm Beach location, call 561-855-1336. For the Martin, Indian River, and St. Lucie location, call 772-888-2840.
