Asphalt Coatings
Driveways need resurfacing or sealing, because of the wear and tear that these types of asphalt surfaces go through. Over time, the asphalt cement together with gravel and sand particles in the asphalt mixture is damaged by ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun as well as by the oxygen that is in the air. Both these together make the asphalt to become more brittle, which is prone to cracking, and cracks allow water to enter the paved surface, causing further deterioration. The cracks that provide a entry point for water to penetrate into the gravel base are one of the leading causes of asphalt deterioration, and it is against this cracking that the coatings for asphalt are used for. Asphalt sealers work as a coating on the pavement, penetrating slightly into the asphalt surface, but mostly on the top of the pavement. There is an art to adding a coating to the asphalt into a driveway, as if you seal too often, the additional layers simply go on top of the previous ones, providing no additional protection, but if you leave the sealing work too late, the deterioration may damage the asphalt too much. Only old asphalt pavements should be sealed and coatings used on them, as a brand new asphalt has oils that need to evaporate for the asphalt to have its final, hard surface, form. Overall, the blacktop coatings will be essential in prolonging the life of the driveway asphalt.
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