A Handy Guide To Sealcoating Asphalt On Your Property

It’s as simple as waxing your car to protect the paint. Blacktop oxidizes (reacts with oxygen in the air) and decays if it’s left unprotected, fading to a dull shade of gray and leaving it vulnerable to cracks, potholes, and chuckholes.  Sealcoating provides a protective barrier against the elements, wear, freezing, and vehicle leaks that can cause serious damage and deterioration. Take the initiative to utilize a blacktop seal coating and you could protect your asphalt before it begins drying out and decaying. Properly maintained asphalt can last up to 30 years before replacement and will save you thousands of dollars over time in asphalt repair and replacement costs. No maintenance, on the other hand, can result in expensive replacement in less than 10 years.

First of all, you need to know when you need asphalt maintenance.

Pour water on the surface, and if it beads, you’re protected. If not, it’s time to apply sealant.

For sealcoat to stick to blacktop and protect it, the surface must be completely clean. Just like you wouldn’t put wax on a dirty and greasy car, you can’t put asphalt sealer on dirty or greasy pavement.

Here are the supplies you'll need to clean the surface before sealcoating:

• Gas Blower
• Degreaser Cleaner For Asphalt
• Scrub Brush
• Water & Hose

First, use the gas blower to clear all dirt, debris, and sand from the surface.

If you have any parking lot lines, be sure to clear all flaking paint, otherwise the asphalt sealing won't adhere to the surface. A scrub brush can help with flaking paint.

Use the environment-friendly degreaser cleaner before you apply sealer to clean any and all stains. Simply apply the cleaner, scrub the surface, let it sit for five minutes, and then rinse with water. Be sure to take a look at the problem area when it’s dry so you’re positive the stain is gone. If it's not, repeat the process as needed.

If you have a smaller asphalt surface, like a home driveway, you may be able to use a leaf blower or broom to clear dirt and debris. 

Here’s the list of what you will need for sealcoating. We’ll get more detailed on each one in a moment.

There are two things to consider when purchasing sealcoat sealer: quality and quantity.

The quality of asphalt sealer is important to how long it lasts and how well it protects. The highest quality sealer is the most effective at protecting against the elements and repelling water, gasoline, oil, and transmission fluid.

Another good quality indication is if the sealer is marked “airport-grade,” which must meet the high standards needed for airport runways. You may not be able to find airport-grade sealer at your local store, but you can find high-grade asphalt/blacktop sealer on our website.

Emulsion sealer is generally considered to be of a lesser quality as it, among other weaknesses, fades faster, is more susceptible to stains, and requires warmer temperatures for proper application.

As for quantity, you must measure the area where you plan to apply sealant. Simply multiply the length by the width for the square footage. If you have multiple areas, measure each one individually and add them together. Enter this number, as well as how you plan to apply the sealer, into our sealcoating calculator, and you’ll know exactly how much you’ll need. Remember, it’s better to have too much than have to stop and order more before you're finished.

Keep in mind If you have neglected asphalt sealing for many years, you will need to apply it in two thin coats, allowing time to dry in between, so you’ll need to double up on your order.

Do you need a sealcoating machine, and do you know how to choose one? For any property manager or owner, an asphalt sprayer is an investment that quickly pays for itself in time and money saved.

When you figure that you should sealcoat every two years, doing it yourself is a big savings over contracting the job out. On anything but a small driveway, using a broom or squeegee in lieu of a sealcoating machine is not a good use of time, and it is very hard work.

It's not only faster to use a machine but also more efficient.  A sealcoating machine uses 40% less material than manually-applied sealer. If you have asphalt equipment such as the AirBoss 300 Air-Operated Sealcoat Spray System, you will be saved from spending too much time and effort when you maintain your asphalt parking lot. This equipment should last you many years to come, if well-maintained. 

Most sealcoating machines work in roughly the same way, and even the simplest sealcoating machine will make the work simple, quick, and professional looking. For the property that has larger demands, you can go all the way up to a heavy-duty machine that handles up to 300 gallons of sealant in a sealcoat storage tank.

This article will give you the facts you need for finding the best machine for your needs.

An important part of knowing how to apply blacktop sealer is determining when to seal asphalt. Sealer can be applied once new asphalt has cured for at least 90 days. Ideally, it’s best to wait for six to nine months before the first coat. Don’t apply blacktop sealer when it’s raining or snowing.

If your blacktop is clean, all potholes and cracks are filled, and you’re ready to start sealcoating, the next step is to check the weather forecast. You’ll need temperatures of 60º F or above and no rain for the day. If the weather permits, you may begin to prep the area you will be applying the sealer to.

Any areas that you do not want black sealer to get on must be protected. Use cardboard and tape to protect sidewalks, curbs, lampposts, fire hydrants, garage doors, etc. This is the time to block off the area with traffic cones, sawhorses, and caution tape to keep all traffic out as well.

Did you know? Sealcoating must be stirred, just like paint, or the solids start to settle down to the bottom. Use an old broom stick to thoroughly mix sealcoat. The consistency of the liquid should resemble thick soup.

After you've blocked off the area you want to cover and covered surfaces that you don't want to spray, you'll need to prime your sealcoating machine. This is a critical step that prevents blockages and contributes to the overall maintenance of the equipment. 

Priming your sealcoat sprayer is a simple operation, which involves assembling your machine and preparing it to spray. Instead of directing that stream out onto the blacktop, though, you direct it back into its source, creating a recirculation of asphalt sealer. 

Doing this before you begin will ensure that the machine is fully engaged. 

This article will explain in greater detail how to prime various models. 

Plan out where you will start and finish, so you don’t paint yourself into a corner. Generally, you start asphalt sealing by doing the top and side edges first, keeping the spray even and applying a thin coat. It’s useful to have a second person work with you, holding cardboard to protect the grass, curb, sidewalks, or flower beds on the edges. Then start at the top and work side to side all the way to the bottom edge.

Consider Sealcoat Sprayer Accessories

The quality and efficiency of your sealcoating machine can also be enhanced with the use of accessories. One of the most popular sealcoating accessories is the Sealcoat Edger.

If you've never used a spray shield such as the Wand Wizard Edger before, you're going to be amazed at how much time it saves you. Just attach it to a spray wand and go! You don't need to have another person holding plywood or cardboard so that you don't overspray onto sidewalks, curbs or lawns: this attachment makes it easy for you do it all yourself.

Other useful accessories include filter kits and, for larger or commercial jobs, hose reels.

When using a spraying machine, coat the top and side edges of the designated area first. Then, starting at one of the top corners, go side to side until it's done.

Use The Right Spray Tips

The spray tip on the end of your sealcoat sprayer controls the GPM (gallons per minute) that's applied to the blacktop as well as its shape. Not all spray tips are the same, though, as varieties will create different shapes. Spray tips with fewer GPMs will apply thinner streams for better control on smaller surfaces, while those with greater GPMs will spray wider fans with less precision. 

Be sure to have a variety of spray tips on the job to get the right coverage in the right spots. 

If you start getting poor pressure at the spray tip while you're sealcoating, there are a few potential causes. Get three common reasons and how to fix this problem with some troubleshooting.

How Fast And Easy Is It? 

Seeing is believing, so watch this video to see exactly how easy and how fast you can get the job done.

Once you've applied the sealer, you need to allow time for the sealcoating to cure and dry. Two thin coats cure and seal far better than one thick, gloopy coat, so be sure to allow time to cure between asphalt sealing coats.

In order to keep your sprayer in good working condition, it’s important to clean and maintain the hose, sprayer gun, sprayer tips, and filter on your sealcoat system.

1. Flushing the Hose and Sprayer Gun

When you are done with work for the day, you should flush your hose and spray gun. To do this, you should have a 55-gallon drum of water (highly recommended, though you can also use a large 30-gallon bucket or other large container of water as your water source) and a transfer kit.

We strongly recommend you buy a transfer kit if you don’t already have one. It’s not only useful to transfer sealer from drums or other sealer sources, but it also allows you to flush your unit very well.

When you’re ready to flush your system, turn off the bottom valve at the very bottom of your tank. This shuts the tank, so you won’t be pulling sealer through your sprayer hose and spray gun. Connect your transfer kit to the female camlock, and fill the transfer kit hose with water. Insert the end of the transfer kit into your water source and point your spray gun into your water source as well. Then, turn your unit on spray mode on top of your pump. Your system will be pulling in water via the transfer kit, through your pump, down your spray hose, through your spray gun, and back into the water source.

This essentially flushes your unit with water. See the diagram below:

2. Cleaning the Filter Kit

Once you’re done with the flush of water, remove the screen mesh of the filter kit and stick it into a 5-gallon pail of water for an hour or two. The filter kit itself opens up nice and wide, so you can get a hose in there and flush it out for 20-30 minutes. When you’re ready to use your unit, reassemble.

3. Cleaning the Spray Tips

Take your tip off the spray gun, and put it into a small Tupperware of Goof Off, bug & tar remover, or even water. Use a small wire brush to clean the tip. A stiff wire bristle can clean the tip hole. You can also use a tip basket to soak your sealcoating tips in a container of water and lift them out easily.

4. What to do with Sealer Water

Never put the sealer water out into a sewer or dump it out! The best thing to do is just keep the 55-gallon drum of water throughout the season to flush your system. When your water gets very dirty, use that water as dilution water (our sealer can be diluted up to 20-30% with water) or to restore the liquid that evaporates during the season.

5. Remove the Transfer Kit

When you’re ready to reuse your unit, make sure the transfer kit is removed and the male camlock is back on where the transfer kit was attached. Open the bottom valve of your tank, recirculate your sealer, and use spray mode as normal.

6. Clear the Suction Port

Previously, we blogged about troubleshooting sealcoating systems that are losing pressure at the spray tip, with one of the potential causes being a clogged suction port.

Clearly that was an issue for many, as we got questions about the best way for fixing and clearing the suction port. Here's what you need to know about this critical part of sealcoating maintenance.

• The easiest way to unclog the suction port is to go in through the main top lid of the tank with a piece of rebar, a drill mixer, or a piece of 1x2 - something that can get in to the end of the tank where the suction hose connects to the bottom of the tank. Go in through the top lid inside the tank to the end of the tank where the suction hose connects and swish the sealer around. Over time, the sediment settles to the bottom, and the solids will clog the suction port if you don't have a manual agitation system.
• Even easier than clearing the suction port is to invest in a manual agitation system to prevent the clog from happening in the first place. The danger is a blockage can potentially have you running your pump dry and burning up your seals. If your pump isn't getting primed because liquid isn't reaching it due to the suction port being blocked, then you may damage your sealcoating machine. A manual agitation kit will help you avoid this problem.
• Another method of clearing the suction port is to remove the hose from the suction port of the tank, located at the very bottom of the tank. Make sure the valve on your tank is off. Otherwise when you pull the hose off, sealer will spill out everywhere.

Here is the step-by-step way to clear the suction port by removing the hose:

1. Close your main valve on the bottom of your tank.
2. Pull the hose off.
3. Check the hose for blockage.
4. Get a 5-gallon pail, and place it below the main valve for the suction port.
5. Open the valve.
6. Let the thick sludge drip out of there, checking to make sure it has not solidified into a hard solid form. This would never remix, even with a drill mixer, as it is now a solid mass.

7. Prevent Blockages When You'll Be Away

Prevention is the best sealcoating maintenance. If your sealer is going to sit for a couple of weeks at a time because you are going on a vacation, you are going to have a difficult time agitating the sealer in the tank when you get back. Unless you have someone to come in and agitate it every two or three days while you are away, your real solution is to transfer it.

Start by removing the spray tip off of your spray gun. Then spray the sealer through the spray gun into 55-gallon drums. Seal the drums airtight. This way you protect and prevent your suction port from getting clogged in the first place.

If you've read this resource, you know the two best ways to clearing the suction port in your sealcoating machine. Agitation not only will help clear the blockage by keeping the sealer mixed properly, but by investing in a manual agitation unit and regularly agitating, you prevent the blockages from happening in the first place. Removing the suction hose, with the valve closed, also allows you to remove the sludge that has settled. Most of all, prevention is your best bet. If you will not be using the tank while you are on vacation, either have someone come in every couple of days to agitate it, or transfer the sealant to drums and store.

Now’s the time to have fresh parking lot lines painted to replace what has been blacked out by sealcoating. We have a great selection of parking lot striping machines, products and a fantastic free line striping course that is just as easy to learn as applying sealer. You’ve already got the asphalt prepped and ready to go, so the time-consuming prep work is already done!

Don’t forget to store your machine and equipment. Keep it clean and ready to use for next time you seal asphalt. The barriers and caution tape can be taken down and stored once the asphalt has cured.

Interested In knowing more? Visit our complete line-up of asphalt courses designed for everyone from homeowners to property managers to business start-ups.

Sealcoating protects and defends your asphalt surfaces and brings their lifespans up into decades rather than years. When you do your own asphalt sealing, you save money and lower the cost of maintaining your property.

Do the simple water test to see if it’s time to apply sealant. Get all cracks and potholes properly patched and filled. Thoroughly clean the surface of all debris, fuel spills, stains, and loose paint. Have enough airport-grade sealer to do the job for the one or two coats you plan on applying. Decide on the right asphalt-sealing equipment for your property. Block off traffic to protect the area, and then apply sealant.

Remember to include line-striping as part of your plan for after the sealer has cured. Now you’re all set to add sealcoating to your list of things you can do yourself—even large projects like small airports—and at a huge cost savings.