Water damage can be costly, whether that damage comes from a leaky pipe or flooding. And your driveway can be impacted by water too and seal coating your driveway is one way to help prevent water damage too. When seal coating a driveway, it will create an impervious barrier that deters water from seeping through the surface of the asphalt. This means there are no cracks for water to get in which will help reduce standing water on your property after rainfalls or other incidents. Seal coating also helps keep stones in place so they do not become dislodged and cause any problems with drainage or driving visibility. So let’s take a deeper look at how seal coating services can help prevent water damage!
What Causes Water Damage to Your Asphalt?
So, how exactly does water damage your asphalt surfaces? While you may think it sounds strange, water is the biggest cause of damage to driveways and other asphalt surfaces. When cracks occur in asphalt, water can seep underneath the surface, and begin to degrade the asphalt beneath. Because of this, every time it rains, snows, or gets damp, water may enter the asphalt through fractures and can cause some serious damage. This damage is oftentimes not visible from the surface but it can still be extremely extensive.
If this damage is left for too long it can even lead to potholes and other major damage that will require costly repairs. This moisture can also penetrate asphalt surfaces which will help to degrade not only the surface of your asphalt but the ground beneath too. And when it comes to parking lots and larger driveways areas that collect pooling water or standing water can lead to serious damage to the asphalt.
This damage happens when water can seep into cracks and become trapped in surface layers of asphalt, causing damage to the seal. So we work to combat water from seeping into your asphalt surfaces with seal coating and something called hydroplaning. Hydroplaning occurs when rainwater accumulates on top of your driveway but there is no way for water to escape because all existing channels are blocked by seal coating.
Ways You Can Prevent Water Damage
Now that you understand how water can be harmful to your asphalt surfaces, it is important to know how to prevent it. And you have a few options on how you can do just that!
Water Redirection
One way to help prevent water damage is by making sure your driveway has a proper drainage system. This will not only help water travel away from your property as soon as it falls but it will also prevent water from settling on your asphalt which will lead to cracks and degradation. This can be done by building your driveway at a slight slope so any water can drain off.
Crack Filling
Another way you can prevent water damage from occurring is with crack filling. Our team at Sealcoating 2.0 knows firsthand that the oxidation of your asphalt can cause it to become brittle. And this can lead to cracks that then allow water into your asphalt. Once these cracks have formed it creates a way for water to seep in which then weakens the base. This causes your pavement’s ability to carry traffic to weaken and soften the compaction which can then lead to more cracks. So taking the time to invest in crack filling services will help to fill these cracks and seal them off, preventing water from penetrating the surface of your driveway or parking lot.
Pothole Repair
Potholes can form when water seeps into cracks and weakens the seal. So if your driveway already has some existing damage it is important to get this fixed as soon as possible. Potholes are dangerous for vehicles because they could lead to tire blowouts which then puts you or others at risk of an accident. These potholes usually occur due to an oxidized pavement and a damaged base course. Oxidation causes the aggregates in the asphalt to loosen up and become undone while a water-damaged base course can lead to depressions in the pavement.
If your base is damaged and in need of repair the area will need to be dug up and replaced with new asphalt and recompacted. If your driveway has depressions and potholes our team at Sealcoating 2.0 can help.
Sealcoating
Seal coating is another way you can help prevent water damage from occurring. Seal coating your asphalt surfaces helps to seal off any existing cracks or fissures and keep them closed so no water seeps in, which then prevents the oxidation process from beginning again.
Seal coating also has a UV-resistant layer that strengthens the seal and helps to seal in the base course so it can’t be penetrated by water or any other liquids.
At Sealcoating, we offer a number of seal coating services for both residential and commercial properties that help prevent water damage from occurring. We use professional-grade materials that will seal off your existing cracks while also protecting your asphalt from oxidation and water damage.
Regular Maintenance and Repair
Regular seal coating services can help prevent water damage from occurring but they won’t be able to protect your asphalt forever. Sealcoating is a temporary fix and eventually, it will wear off with time so you will have to plan on getting regular seal coating services as part of an ongoing maintenance process.
The good news is that seal-coated surfaces hold up better than those that have not been seal-coated. And because seal coating is a temporary fix, it doesn’t take as much time and money to reapply. So this means you won’t be spending as much on seal coating services as other types of asphalt maintenance which will save you money in the long run!
Let our Team at Sealcoating 2.0
With all of that said, the best way to prevent water damage to your asphalt surface is by trusting our team at Sealcoating 2.0 to help! Our seal-coating services help seal off any existing cracks and fissures while protecting your asphalt from oxidation, UV rays, and water damage. Contact our team at Sealcoating 2.0 for all of your asphalt needs. Whether you need your surface repaved, cracks filled, or sealant reapplied we can help!