Driveway sealing is an essential part of pavement maintenance. Timely and proper coat sealing provide numerous benefits to property owners because through sealing, your driveway and parking lot will look fresh and attractive. If properly protected from damages that are caused by rain, sun, snow and harsh weather, the lifespan of your pavement will be doubled or even tripled. If you want to have your driveway undergo blacktop sealing, you should hire an experienced residential driveway contractor to come to your aid. Dominic's Paving is a leader in asphalt repairs Maryland. As soon as you contact them, they will inspect your concrete, give you a fixed quote and tell you when they can start with the job. However, before starting with driveway repair and sealing, you should learn more about different driveway sealing materials. Your choice of material shouldn’t only rely on your budget. Before you opt for a blacktop sealer, it is crucial to have the advantages and disadvantages of each material on your mind. This way, you will be able to pick the best one for your driveway and parking lot.
Coal Tar Emulsion​ And Asphalt Repairs
According to Maryland paving experts, coal tar emulsion is the number one choice for seal coating asphalt. This emulsion is very durable and provides quality protection to your pavement. Since blacktop is a petroleum-based product, other petroleum products will easily bind to it on a molecular level. If your pavement is not adequately protected, motor oil, gasoline and other substances will easily stain the surface of your asphalt, making unsightly spots and smudge. Coal tar emulsion is resistant to gasoline and motor oil and it will protect your concrete from staining. It will also protect it from water and harmful sun rays. When properly applied, sealcoating can expand to the lifespan of your asphalt. Depending on the traffic, coating lasts around five years until reapplied.
Unfortunately, coal tar emulsion also has some disadvantages. The main disadvantage of using this material is it’s harmfulness to the environment. Due to this, coal tar black top sealer is even banned in some countries with a more developed environmental consciousness. Apart from this, during utilization, it is necessary of utmost importance to use safety wear and gear. If not, the emulsions can cause harmful skin irritation and its fumes can cause respiratory problems. If you plan to work with coal tar, it is best to leave the job to an expert.
Asphalt Emulsion and Acrylic By Maryland Contractors
As you may suppose, this type of emulsion used for seal coating asphalt is made from the same material you have in your driveway. Due to this, asphalt emulsion cannot provide as much protection as coal tar sealers. The advantage of using this material is its rich dark color and attractive appearance. The downside is that the emulsion is not UV resistant. It is only water resistant. Due to this reason, pavement coated with asphalt emulsion will usually fade just after one season.
Resurface Your Driveway
If you can expand your budget, you can opt for acrylic as a seal coating material. Acrylic is durable, UV and weather-resistant and it is not harmful to the environment. It also comes in different rich colors that won’t quickly fade away. Depending on the traffic conditions, it can last from five to seven years before it needs to be reapplied.