We recommend that newly paved asphalt is sealed within 1-2 years after install. Sealer will fill in any areas that remain porous, and will establish the beginning of a regular maintenance cycle. Unfortunately, most people are reactionary, rather than preventative with regard to asphalt maintenance and wait to seal until after damage has already occurred.

The proper application of a quality pavement sealer by Asphalt Repair Solutions will extend the service life and reduce maintenance costs of asphalt pavements. Sealing protects pavements from the destructive effects of water, sunlight, oxidation, gasoline, motor oils and many other chemicals and solvents. In addition, it provides a distinctive new-looking surface that is easy to clean. By properly sealing your pavement, you can significantly slow down the aging process, and at a fraction of the cost of repaving.

The typical season for asphalt sealing in Connecticut runs from late May through mid September. Temperatures for the day are preferred to be between 50 and 80 degrees and it cannot rain for a several day period.

Drying times can vary quite widely based on a few factors (in decreasing order of importance). (1) Air temperature (2) Direct sunlight (3) Asphalt temperature (4) Wind. The sealer is a water-based product and, just like paint, will dry when all the water evaporates out. Sealers applied in direct sunlight on a 90-degree day can dry almost instantly. Sealer applied in the shade when temperatures are less than 60 degrees can take 8 plus hours to dry. Under most circumstances, if applied in the morning, sealer will take 4-6 plus hours to dry.

A typical application will last roughly 2-3 years. Much depends on the customer preference regarding how fresh they want it to look. Factors that will affect how quickly the sealer wears are traffic volume, the “elements” and the original asphalt condition. Well-maintained asphalt that is sealed frequently will hold the seal longer.

All non-grass edges and any hard-to-reach areas will be applied by hand using specialized brushes. The remainder of the surface area will be applied with a combination of spray and/or squeegee application. Any imperfections in the “wet” appearance of the sealer, such as brush strokes will be scarcely noticeable once it has dried.

Factors that will affect our prices are: units (i.e. square feet, lineal feet, etc.), condition of the asphalt, how much prep work may be required, and obstacles that will affect workflow, such as carports, curb stops, etc. When seal coating, asphalt in relatively good condition does not require nearly as much material and can be completed at a much lower cost, while older, “thirstier” asphalt, can require much more material.

For the same reason wood is painted, asphalt should be sealed. Without protection, the elements of rain, sun and snow will penetrate, oxidize and deteriorate asphalt. When your pavement is new, it is flexible. That is one of the reasons asphalt is used in cold weather climates — it has the ability to flex when the ground freezes. Over time, an unprotected surface becomes more brittle due to the harmful effects of nature, and when it has lost its flexibility, it cracks. Once cracking begins, water can penetrate to the sub-base, leading to wider deterioration of the pavement surface. Water penetration is the number one reason for pavement failure.