Is Your Asphalt Sealcoat Peeling Away Or Flaking Off? Here Are 4 Reasons Why It Might Be Happening

Sealcoating an asphalt surface periodically helps to extend its lifespan by protecting it from water intrusion, which is highly damaging to asphalt. Unfortunately, many homeowners who sealcoat an asphalt surface as a DIY project find that it begins to peel and flake off after a single year. High-quality sealcoat is designed to last for several years before it needs to be reapplied, so it shouldn't be expected to flake off so soon after using it. What causes this to happen? Read on to find out four reasons why your asphalt sealcoat may be flaking and peeling away from the asphalt surface.

1. Not Preparing the Surface

One of the most common reasons why asphalt sealcoat begins to flake off is poor surface preparation. If you don't prepare the asphalt surface before you sealcoat it, the sealcoat won't be able to strongly bond to it. Before sealcoating, it's best to wash the entire surface with a pressure washer in order to make sure it's clean and ready for sealcoating. Make sure you don't hold the nozzle of the pressure washer too close to the asphalt surface, since this can damage the top layer.

Additionally, any oil stains on the asphalt surface need to be removed before you sealcoat it. Sealcoat isn't able to bond with oil, so the sealcoat on top of an oil stain will rapidly flake off. Before sealcoating, you need to thoroughly clean oil stains using a wire brush and then apply an asphalt primer to the stained area. The asphalt primer will allow the sealcoat to bond with the surface.

2. Applying Sealcoat in Cold Weather

Sealcoat helps to protect asphalt from being damaged by freezing weather, so it's common for people to try to seal their surfaces right before the weather turns cold. Unfortunately, this typically results in a poor sealcoat application. Asphalt sealcoat requires sunny, warm weather in order to cure properly. If the weather's too cold when it's applied, the sealcoat won't bond to the asphalt surface well.

You should also ensure that there's no rain in the forecast before you sealcoat an asphalt surface. If the asphalt isn't fully cured, rain can wash it away. In addition, the added moisture also interferes with the curing process and causes the sealcoat to not bond properly.

3. Sealcoating Over Cracks

Asphalt sealcoat isn't meant to be used as a crack repair product. While it can hide cracks for a time, the cracks will quickly return as the sealcoat on top of them peels off. Sealcoat adheres best to level asphalt pavement, so it's important to fill in any cracks in the asphalt surface before you sealcoat it. Your sealcoat will last longer, and you'll also help protect the pavement by preventing water from intruding through the cracks.

4. Using Low-Quality Sealcoat

You can purchase asphalt sealcoat at most home improvement stores, but these products tend to be low-quality. Manufacturers typically dilute these products with water in order to make them less expensive, but the added water reduces the sealcoat's ability to bond to the asphalt surface. Commercial-grade sealcoat contains more coal tar or asphalt compared to the versions you'll find in a home improvement store, which makes it bond to asphalt more strongly. You'll pay more for commercial-grade sealcoat, but it's more durable and less likely to flake off.

Preparing the surface correctly and using the right product are both important to ensure that your sealcoat will bond correctly to the surface. If you're having trouble with flaking and peeling sealcoat, contact a professional asphalt sealcoating service in your area. They'll have the expertise necessary to sealcoat your asphalt service without risking unsightly flaking and peeling, which tends to be common with DIY sealcoating.

To learn more, reach out to an asphalt sealcoating service today.

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