Central Texas is known for having scorching summers. On the hottest days, temperatures can reach the triple digits! While great asphalt care will keep your pavement well-protected from the heat and harsh UV rays, you must be careful about how and when you perform critical maintenance tasks. Sealcoating in Austin Texas is particularly vulnerable to intense heat, and failing to consider the weather forecast when scheduling service appointments can lead to less-than-stellar results.
When it's time to seal coat asphalt, contractors must pay close attention to the weather forecast. The ideal temperature for sealcoating is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit; however, most formulas can perform well in temperatures ranging from 50 degrees to 90 degrees. When temperatures approach or exceed 90 degrees, which can happen frequently throughout Central Texas summers, problems can occur.
In excessive heat, sealcoating companies in Austin will encounter an issue known as "flash curing." Flash curing happens when the sealer cures and dries too rapidly. Cutting back on that lengthy 24-48 hours of cure time might seem like a good thing. However, flash curing can prevent the products used to seal coat asphalt from penetrating the pavement's pores and forming a tight bond. In many cases, the sealer touching the asphalt will cure instantly. Meanwhile, the upper layer exposed to the sun does the same, trapping moist sealer in between. Even after several days of curing, that trapped moisture will remain, resulting in tracking and peeling.
If asphalt sealcoating is necessary during the summer months, contractors must take extra precautions to prevent flash curing and ensure proper bonding.
Asphalt sealcoating companies must keep an eye on ambient and ground temperatures because they directly impact how sealers cure. The products used to seal coat asphalt work through evaporation. Formulas vary, and manufacturer guidelines for sealer prep can differ. However, most products contain around 60 percent water by volume after preparation.
Once applied to your pavement, the moisture content in sealcoating products slowly evaporates. What's left is the coal tar or asphalt emulsion, which bonds to your pavement for long-lasting protection. High temperatures can accelerate evaporation, leading to the aforementioned flash-curing phenomenon. High humidity levels can also ruin the curing process. However, rather than speeding it up like high temperatures, high relative humidity can significantly slow it. For that reason, humidity levels should be no higher than around 50 percent for optimal results.
Temperature and humidity are significant factors that asphalt sealcoating companies must take into consideration. If things aren't right, asphalt sealing in Austin can do more harm than good.
Sealcoating companies in Austin have several methods to overcome extreme heat. Beyond rescheduling and waiting for better conditions, asphalt sealcoating companies can prepare the pavement by lightly misting it with water. The water will evaporate quickly, but it also cools the pavement to a more suitable temperature.
Asphalt sealcoating companies can also adjust their application techniques, applying additional coats and treating the first layer as a primer. Some contractors will create a special mix with a greater concentration of water for that initial coat, allowing the excess moisture to cool the pavement and prepare it for subsequent layers.
There are also many additives that contractors can use for asphalt sealing in Austin. Aggregates and specially formulated additives for asphalt sealcoating slow the rate of evaporation, overcoming issues like flash curing, even on the hottest days.
At Stallion Paving, we go the extra mile to do asphalt sealcoating right. We bring over a decade of experience to your property. We've seen it all, and our team knows how to overcome any challenge that arises to deliver five-star results every time. We aim to be among the best sealcoating companies in Austin, employing a four-step approach to guarantee exceptional results and customer service you can count on. In addition to sealcoating, Stallion Paving is available for fresh paving, repairs, crack repair, chip sealing, concrete curbing, drainage improvements, striping, and more.
Let us take care of all your asphalt paving and maintenance needs. Call Stallion Paving at (512) 379-5967, email matt@stallionpaving.com, or use our online form to discuss your needs and receive a complimentary quote.
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