Asphalt sealcoating is a necessity, and the equipment for it must be practical. Otherwise, professionals and DIYers alike lose money doing it. Commercial sealcoating equipment offers the necessary efficiency.

Asphalt Sealcoating Overview

Asphalt sealcoating involves spraying asphalt surfaces with a coal tar or asphalt emulsion solution. The solution then bonds to the surface and helps protect it from wear. Sealcoating can delay repaving indefinitely.

Spray Equipment for Asphalt Sealcoating

The most efficient way to deliver sealcoat is with a spray sealcoating equipment solution. A spray system helps provide an even coat of the right thickness. Most systems attach to the sealer reservoir, use a pump to deliver pressure, and spray from a wand. 

Asphalt Sealer

Asphalt sealer comes in several varieties, the most common of which are coal tar and asphalt emulsion. There are legal restrictions in some areas on coal tar due to environmental concerns. Asphalt emulsion does not have these restrictions, but it also requires additives to be as durable as coal tar.

In either case, asphalt sealer contains oils that migrate into the old asphalt surface and restore flexibility. The right sealcoating equipment also ensures a uniform asphalt sealer layer. That layer provides UV and vehicle liquid spill protection too.

Crack Repair Equipment

Asphalt sealcoating is not the only activity asphalt needs. Crack repair is vital. The sooner cracks are repaired, the longer an asphalt surface will last. That’s because cracks can become a stress point in the asphalt and continue to degrade.

Crack repair equipment is often simple. The equipment distributes a hot or cold sealer in a straight line over the crack. Some equipment can heat the sealer inside the frame while the operator is moving.

Crack Sealer

Crack sealer comes in hot or cold fill. Generally, hot is the best one to use unless the weather makes it impossible. The sealer goes over the crack and prevents further damage from water and pressure.

A hot crack sealer, also known as a rubberized crack sealer, requires melting. It then bonds with either side of the crack when applied. The bond is what makes it stronger than the cold fill option that people pour in.

Line Striping Equipment

Line striping is necessary after using asphalt sealcoating equipment. Sealcoat obscures parking lot lines whenever it is applied. Therefore, line striping equipment needs to follow as close after asphalt sealcoating equipment as possible.

Line striping equipment is also straightforward. There is a paint container, an engine, and a spray system calibrated for straight lines. Then someone lines everything up and sprays each individual asphalt line.

Asphalt Paint

There are many varieties of asphalt paint at varying price points. However, the two most used ones are oil-based and water-based. The others are expensive, dangerous to work with, or do not last as long. 

Typically, white, blue, yellow, and red are the most common colors on asphalt. Using these colors ensures that parking lots are still easy to navigate after using asphalt sealcoating equipment.

Patching Equipment

Potholes are a bane for drivers and pedestrians. However, fixing them is not always as easy as it looks. There are a few distinct types of pothole repairs, and each one should happen before the use of asphalt sealcoating equipment. 

Pothole patching can use an infrared heater to melt asphalt to a workable temperature and fill in the hole. Many professionals also use a vibrating plate to get a smooth surface. There are also cold options that do not require machines. 

Types of Asphalt Patches

Hot asphalt patching is more straightforward than asphalt sealcoating equipment. The crew packs the hole with scrap asphalt, and an infrared heater brings it to a workable temperature. Then workers ensure a level surface and compaction.

Cold repair requires more work. The hole is packed with a cold pothole repair, which is then compacted. Typically, the entire process is manual unless the repairer wants to drive a vehicle over the cold repair for more compaction.

Are you interested in more information about asphalt sealcoating equipment? Check out Asphalt Kingdom’s informative website.