Frequently Asked Questions We would like you to be as informed as possible about your sealcoating experience, so below are some commonly asked questions. It is easy to jump around sections so that you can concentrate on topics that are most beneficial or interesting to you. Please remember that we are always available to answer any more in depth questions by calling us or sending us a quick email.
How long does it take? It depends on the cleaning and repairs. The average driveway with NO repairs can usually be done in about an hour. How long do I need to stay off my driveway? In full sun, you can walk on your driveway in 2-4 hours. You cannot drive on it for 24 hours. In the spring and fall, 48 hours is recommended. Although it dries in 24-48 hours, it takes 30 days to cure so no harsh chemicals or turning tires without the car moving. After we have finished applying the pavement sealer, we will block the entrance with barricade tape. How often should I seal my driveway? Asphalt pavements should be sealcoated every two to three years. Although, we do have regular customers that request sealcoating every year for a “fresh new look.” Will the sealer make the pavement slippery? No; pavement sealer will not make the surface slippery. We use a sand-slurry mix of pavement sealer. Not all contractors use this type of mix, so be sure to ask. Are all brands of pavement sealer the same? Absolutely not! Store bought materials cannot compare to the high quality commercial grade materials used by Black Magic Sealcoating. All consumers should do their homework to ensure contractors are using a commercial grade material that meets all Federal specifications. The material should include additives that increase the toughness, flexibility and durability of the coating. Our equipment has continuous agitation to maintain consistency of the sealer throughout the application process. Black Magic Sealcoating applies seal that is manufactured by a member of the A.S.M.A. (Asphalt Sealcoat Manufacturers Association). SealMaster adheres to the strict A.S.M.A. standard specification in manufacturing their material. Feel free to visit the following link for more information: www.SealMaster.net How many coatings of pavement sealer should be applied? One coating of pavement sealer is more than sufficient for the average home driveway. Two coatings of pavement sealer are recommended on commercial parking lots receiving moderate or heavy traffic. A third coating of sealer is recommended on parking lot entrances/exits and roadways where excessive wear occurs due to constant turning and excessive use. How should pavement sealer be applied? Pavement sealer can be applied by either hand, spraying or squeegee. We usually apply the pavement sealer by hand (using a nylon brush applicator) on smaller areas such as home driveways. Spraying of pavement sealer is usually reserved for large, open areas such as parking lots and roadways. Either method will result in a quality, long lasting coating, when done properly. My pavement has some depressions that hold water; will sealer fix this? No; pavement sealer will not fill depressions or holes in the asphalt pavement. These types of repairs should be performed in advance using hot asphalt pavement. Will the pavement sealer cover oil stains? Pavement sealer will not adhere to oil stains unless the stain is first torched and treated with an oil spot primer. We always include torching and priming oil stains on the pavement surface before applying sealer. What causes scuffmarks/tire marks in the new coating of pavement sealer? Scuffing and/or tire marks on the newly sealcoated surface may occur especially in the hot sun. Expect power steering marks as the sand is sheared away from the coal tar but over time these marks will go away. Scuffing and/or tire marks is normal and temporary, usually occurring within the first month after the sealcoating has been applied. How soon can new pavement be sealcoated? Newly paved asphalt surfaces should not be sealcoated until they have sufficient time to cure. Curing allows the excess oils that are always present in new asphalt pavements to diminish through a process called oxidation. This process can take 90 days depending on the percentage of oil present in the new pavement. We usually recommend that a new asphalt pavement to cure one year. This ensures that the surface will be properly cured when pavement sealer is applied. Do I need to be home for Black Magic Sealcoating? No you do not need to be present for any of our services. Since your driveway is easily accessible to Black Magic Sealcoating we can estimate, prepare, and seal your driveway while you are at work or on vacation. Just be sure that there are no vehicles, etc. left on the driveway and any automatic sprinklers are deactivated the night before any work is scheduled. Can pavement sealer fill cracks in the pavement? No, pavement sealer will not fill cracks in the pavement. Cracks come in many sizes, and we offer different solutions depending on the size. Nothing can be done for alligator cracks; it surely is a waste of money. Crack filling is not the solution at this stage. Once pavement damage has started, it tends to progress at an increasing rate. The sooner problems are addressed, the greater costs savings. Will sealcoating “Buy” a few more years of life to an old, cracked pavement? Absolutely not! This is a common misconception. Sealcoating on a poorly damaged pavement is just a glorified coat of black paint. It is better to save the money spent on sealcoating and apply it towards new asphalt or overlays. Will snowplows damage the sealcoat surface? Yes, snowplows can scratch the surface. It is important to communicate with your plow contractor. Loaders can damage the surface with excessive down pressure. Rubber blades should be used. If pavement has white scratches, we can touch up these areas. We had our pavement crack filled and some of the cracks re-opened? This happens due to the freeze/thaw cycles in the Northeast. Cracks may re-open. Crack filler is not a permanent solution, but a time buying procedure that cannot be guaranteed. Crack filler is a yearly maintenance. What is hot pour crack filler? Hot pour crack filler is a flexible, rubber-like commercial grade product that is used to repair cracks in asphalt pavements. It starts out as a solid, rubber block which is melted down in a special kettle that is heated to 400 degrees. Once melted, the crack filler is applied over cracks and hardens up deep inside the crack, keeping water from penetrating the asphalt to cause further crack development. Why isn’t the hot pour crack filler completely hardened? After it has been applied and allowed to cool, hot pour crack filler is supposed to remain flexible, allowing it to expand and contract with the outside air temperature. If you press it with your finger, it will flex. If you park on it with your car tires, it will temporarily retain the tread pattern. This is normal for this type of material. Some of the hot pour crack filler pulled up! What should I do? Hot pour crack filler can sometimes pull up because of parking directly on it with the hot tires of a vehicle that has just come to rest after prolonged driving at highway speeds. The hot tires can re-heat the crack filler, which then re-cools, adhering to the tire. When the vehicle is later moved, a small portion of the hot pour crack filler is pulled up with the tire. There is not much that can be done to prevent this except try not to park directly on the hot pour crack filler while the tires are still hot. How soon can pavement sealer be applied to hot crack filler? Pavement sealer can be applied to hot pour crack filler almost immediately! Hot pour crack filler usually cools enough to apply sealcoating within 5-10 minutes. Is the crack filler visible through the sealcoat? Yes, you will be able to see the crack fill through the sealcoat! Because the texture of the crack fill is smoother than the texture of the asphalt. This is unavoidable if you want your driveway protected. I would like the same striping layout repainted after sealcoating. Is this possible? Yes, we can replace your existing line striping layout exactly where it was before sealcoating. Parking stalls, fire lanes, no parking, vehicle travel lanes, and directional travel areas help to efficiently direct travelers. Can I change to a different striping layout? Yes, we can change your line-striping layout if you wish. This will require that the old lines be painted over with a traffic blackout paint to help prevent them from bleeding through as the pavement sealer wears. A word of caution: the old layout will most likely still have a dark, shadow-like outline under the sealcoating. I am not sure if my property complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Can you inspect my property and suggest what needs to be done? Yes, we offer complete line design, layout and re-striping services to ensure you are in compliance with the ADA.
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