When you add a parking lot to your business or a driveway to your home, you spend money. Even a small driveway can cost $5,000 or more. In this Q&A, experts from Hargrove Sealcoating, a sealcoating company near Brentwood, just south of Nashville, explain the process and how it can keep your investment in top shape.
Q: What is sealcoating?
A: Sealcoating is the process of adding a layer of protective material to your asphalt surface. Many home and business owners in Brentwood choose sealcoating to extend the life of their driveway or parking lot. The material used is a liquid emulsion that seeps into the surface of the asphalt to reinforce the integrity of the asphalt cement, which is the binder that keeps the rock together.
Q: How does asphalt cement work?
A: When you look at a solid surface, such as a driveway, it is easy to imagine that it is a single piece of rock. However, in reality, asphalt is really just crushed stone held together by asphalt cement. It is similar to how flour and sugar are held together by a binding agent. In baking, this is usually an egg; in asphalt, it is distilled oil.
Q: Can water damage an asphalt driveway or parking lot?
A: Yes, water from rain or other sources can degrade the surface of an asphalt driveway. It does this by seeping into tiny cracks. When sealcoating material is applied, it also seeps into the fissures. However, instead of washing away the original binding agent, the sealcoating liquid creates a protective barrier. Brentwood property owners can benefit greatly from performing this type of maintenance on their asphalt surfaces once every two or three years.
Q: Will sealcoating extend the useful life of my driveway?
A: Absolutely. Sealcoating can double the life of your driveway or parking lot.
Q: How is sealcoating applied?
A: Our Brentwood sealcoating crew arrives at your home or business, cleans the surface, repairs any damage, and then pours or sprays the materials over the entire area. Two coats of sealcoat are applied to ensure a thick protective coating.
Q: Is professional sealcoating in Brentwood affordable?
A: Yes, and much more so that having to replace thousands of square feet of asphalt every few years. Our process is quick and painless and costs pennies on the dollar compared to replacement. For business owners, maintaining a pristine parking area is also good for business, as consumers tend to make a snap judgment on the quality of a company based on its external appearance.
Q: What else should I know about the process?
A: Sealcoating has to be applied when temperatures are 50° or warmer and are expected to remain stable for the next 24 hours. We watch the weather closely and reschedule if the rain is expected in that same timeframe. Once applied, the surface may not be used until the next day, so alternate parking arrangements should be secured ahead of time. Further, you must take caution with kids and pets, as foot traffic should also be avoided for 4 hours.
Q: How do I schedule sealcoating services in Brentwood?
A: Call us at 931.619.6718 to schedule a time for an estimate. We will come to your location and take careful measurements. We will also make you aware of any damage to your asphalt before we begin. If repairs are needed, we will show you where and provide an estimate that includes repairs and maintenance.
Hargrove Sealcoating offers more than just superior sealcoating. We also provide asphalt repair, parking lot striping and painting, and vegetation removal for home and business owners in Brentwood, Spring Hill, Franklin, Lewisburg, Murfreesboro, and Thompson’s Station.