There are as many as two billion parking lots in the United States. All of them need sealing and striping. Parking lot sealing and striping are often done in conjunction. These two asphalt maintenance services have different purposes and benefits. But, what they achieve together is greater than the sum of their parts.
In this article, we will outline parking lot sealing and striping, describe their benefits, and how these two services work together to make a pristine, safe, and efficient parking lot.
Parking Lot Sealing
Parking lot sealing, also known as sealcoating, is the application of a thin layer of sealant to the surface of asphalt pavement. Sealcoating fills tiny cracks and voids in the asphalt’s surface. It prolongs the life of your pavement by protecting it from the following:
- Fuel and vehicle spills
- UV rays
- Rain, snow, and ice
- Frost heave
- Raveling
- Oxidation
A fresh sealcoat has a dark, uniform, matte black appearance. As an extra benefit, the dark surface makes snow and ice melt faster.
Parking Lot Striping
Parking lot stripes do more than just mark parking spots. They provide organization, direct the flow of traffic, and provide for pedestrian safety. It’s recommended to re-stripe your parking lot every 12 months to 18 months. In addition, re-striping your parking lot is essential after a seal coat application. This is because the old painted parking lines get covered by a dark matte black layer of asphalt and chemicals in the seal coat.
Benefits of Parking Lot Sealing and Striping Together
As asphalt ages, it fades and appears less and less dark. Most parking paint is either white or yellow. Parking paint chips, fades, and gets scuffed-up over time. Consequently, over time, old paint is harder to distinguish from the surrounding asphalt. Sealcoating makes for a more uniform parking lot appearance. It also provides an optimal canvas for parking lot striping.
All new asphalt parking lots should be sealed within the first 12 months after its installation and every three to five years thereafter. Additionally, striping is recommended every 12 to 18 months. Due to this, it’s easy to fit your sealcoating schedule into your ongoing parking lot striping schedule. Synchronizing sealing and striping means that your parking lot is out of commission for as little time as possible.
Utah-Based Parking Lot Sealing and Striping
If you’re wondering whether your parking lot needs striping and sealcoating, Superior Asphalt, LC can help. We work with facilities management, property management, and municipal teams to provide pavement management plans. Above all, these plans help managers know how often and when to budget for asphalt management services, like parking lot sealing and parking lot striping. Contact us today!
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