Sealcoating is among the vital asphalt maintenance tasks that protect your parking lot from the damaging effects of the elements and natural wear. It increases your parking lot’s lifespan and saves you time and money in recurrent repairs.
When you need to seal coat your parking lot, adequate preparation ensures the job gets done correctly for the best outcome. Learn five ways to prepare your parking lot for sealcoating for a fresh and sleek look.
- Conduct a Visual Assessment
Assess your parking lot visually to identify any signs of deterioration and damage like potholes, cracks, depressions, warping, and stains. Consequently, these areas can be repaired during the process.
Let a professional paving contractor conduct the assessment since they have the expertise to identify any current and potential issues. Also, they can determine whether your parking lot is a good candidate for sealcoating. Typically, parking lots installed in the past two years may not need sealcoating.
- Check the Weather Forecast
Before scheduling for sealcoating, check whether the weather conditions are favorable. You should not do it during inclement weather, such as during rainy, extremely cold, or hot weather. Ideally, the weather should be warm and dry.
Sealcoating during unfavorable weather may lessen the integrity of the sealcoating process and result in an improperly sealed parking lot and a shorter protective time. Consider rescheduling the work until the weather conditions are suitable for optimal results.
- Reroute Operations
A commercial parking lot serves many purposes, including loading and unloading inventory and facilitating deliveries. As such, make alternative arrangements for these tasks. For instance, you can plan for a different drop-off point and delay any restocks.
Notably, communicate to your customers and suppliers about the inaccessibility of your parking lot for several hours on the sealcoating day and the measures you have taken to ensure business continuity. This will ascertain that nothing disrupts the sealcoating process and the site has adequate time to dry and cure.
- Clean and Clear the Area
Start by getting rid of debris on the parking lot, such as leaves, loose pebbles, and chalk. Also, wash away any vehicle fluids, fertilizer, and oil stains. Cleaning ensures the seal coat bonds well with the surface and the application process is successful and effective. However, do this a few days before the application to allow time to dry.
Do not forget to remove any items on the parking lot, such as garbage cans, bicycles, flowerpots, and trailers. If your parking lot is near an overgrown lawn, plan for mowing, especially on the asphalt’s edges. This way, you can clean any vegetation and debris that ends up on the parking lot to pave the way for a seamless sealcoating process.
- Hire an Experienced Paving Professional
Sealcoating should never be a DIY project or one you entrust to a substandard contractor. Take time to find a trained, experienced, and licensed paving professional to do the job.
The professional should evaluate your parking lot before the process and determine whether sealcoating is the best line of action. Also, they should utilize the best products in the market, the latest equipment, and trained personnel. The professional should also advise how to care for the asphalt after sealcoating to enhance its lifespan and durability.
Since a commercial parking lot is a significant investment, sealcoating protects it from damage while improving its aesthetics and providing customers with an excellent first impression. Get in touch with Pinnacle Paving & Sealing for asphalt sealing in Cincinnati, Ohio. We are experienced and licensed to give your parking lot a facelift so that your business stands out.