How Asphalt Sealcoating Protects Birmingham Parking Lots Against Damage

Whether you own or manage a fast-food restaurant, your parking lot is one of your most precious assets. A smooth, attractive surface makes your business look successful, while a surface riddled with cracks and potholes makes it difficult for customers to park or use your drive-through lane. 

Fast-food restaurants rely on volume to meet their financial goals, accelerating asphalt damage caused by traffic. Fortunately, asphalt sealcoating helps Birmingham property managers keep their fast-food restaurants looking pristine.

The Sealcoating Process

Sealcoating is an effective way to prevent parking lot damage caused by sunlight, moisture, chemicals and extreme heat. The first step in the process is to clean the asphalt thoroughly, as dirt, vegetation and other items can affect the outcome of a sealcoating project. During this stage, the sealcoating team also shuts off nearby sources of water and covers oil and gasoline spots with primer, which prevents the spots from showing once the protective coating is in place.

Next, the sealcoating team fills in existing cracks in the asphalt. During this step, an asphalt contractor applies a crack-filling material to each fissure in your parking lot. This material creates a watertight seal, resulting in a smooth surface. Finally, it’s time for sealcoating, which involves applying at least one coat of asphalt sealer to your parking area. Sealers contain sand and other small particles, so they protect asphalt surfaces from several types of damage.

Finally, the team applies new markings to the smooth surface, ensuring your customers can navigate your parking lot safely.

How Asphalt Sealcoating Protects Your Birmingham Parking Lot

Sealcoating creates a protective membrane, preventing asphalt damage associated with these factors.

1. Sun Damage

The sun emits electromagnetic radiation, which can damage asphalt just like it damages your skin. When the sun shines, radiation interacts with oxygen, causing the asphalt to weaken. As it weakens, the asphalt begins to crack, leaving your parking lot looking as if you’ve been neglecting your maintenance duties. Eventually, those cracks can turn into potholes, putting drivers and pedestrians at risk when they visit your restaurant.

2. Water Damage

Asphalt contains several materials held together by binding agents. Although these agents are effective, the bonds they form aren’t permanent. Over time, water can seep underneath asphalt, causing its ingredients to separate. That’s when you start to see cracks forming in your parking lot. 

Water damage wouldn’t be an issue if it only rained a few times per year, but Birmingham gets around 52 inches of rain per year. The amount of water in your parking lot may be even higher if your restaurant has lawn sprinklers.

3. Chemical Damage

Vehicles need oil, gasoline, brake fluid, transmission fluid and other chemicals to run properly. If a customer’s car has a leak, you may end up with some of those fluids in your parking lot. Once they seep into asphalt, chemicals can quickly destroy the bonds holding aggregate materials together, resulting in cracks and other types of damage.

4. Heat-Related Damage

Birmingham is known for its hot, humid summers. Unfortunately, high temperatures tend to dry out the binding agents in asphalt. Once these agents dry out, they become brittle, causing the asphalt to crack. Extreme heat can also cause asphalt to expand, accelerating the damage.

Benefits of Sealcoating

If you manage a fast-food restaurant in Birmingham, sealcoating has many benefits. Since the process creates a protective membrane, it can prevent damage caused by the elements, extending the lifespan of your paved surfaces. 

Completing a sealcoating project also improves the appearance of your parking lot, as it’s the equivalent of giving paved surfaces a makeover. Instead of a parking lot filled with cracks, you can take pride in providing a smooth driving surface for customers.

Sealcoating is also extremely cost-effective, as it uses some of the existing asphalt. Instead of buying all-new materials, you can save money by recycling some of the material in your parking lot. Not only is this a sound decision from a financial perspective, but it can also help your business reach its sustainability goals. 

Finally, sealcoating can protect you from lawsuits associated with vehicle damage or trip-and-fall accidents caused by large cracks or potholes.

Invest in Your Birmingham Business Today

Sealcoating is an investment in making your business safer and more attractive. With so many sealcoating benefits, you really can’t go wrong! Learn more about asphalt repair services at EverLine Coatings today. Contact us today for more information and get a free quote!