When Is The Best Time For Sealcoating in Morgantown WV?
When Is The Best Time For Sealcoating in Morgantown WV?
Is your asphalt paving due for sealcoating in Morgantown WV? Before you call trusted asphalt sealcoating companies to schedule a service appointment, you must consider timing. Like many other maintenance and repair services, asphalt sealcoating requires specific conditions to perform. Otherwise, you might end up with lackluster results and inferior protection for your blacktop surfaces.
Why Does Timing and Weather Matter for Asphalt Sealcoating?
To understand the impact of weather on sealcoating, you have to understand how the process works. During a sealcoating appointment, contractors will apply thin coats of an asphalt sealer. Sealer formulations vary, but most are asphalt emulsions that, when properly prepared, can contain anywhere between 30 and 50 percent water by volume.
After application, Morgantown sealcoating companies allow the sealer to cure for up to 48 hours. During that time, the water content in the asphalt sealer slowly evaporates, leaving behind a protective barrier that shields your pavement from weathering and wear.
Therein lies the importance of identifying the best time for sealcoating. Temperature, humidity, sun exposure, and wind speeds all directly impact the curing process. If conditions are too cold, the parking lot or driveway sealer may freeze in place or cure much more slowly than anticipated. If it’s too hot, the asphalt sealer can flash-cure, failing to bond with your blacktop pavement.
Either way, the results aren’t good. Improper curing will lead to weak protection, poor longevity, and generally awful results. Therefore, the best Morgantown sealcoating companies keep a close eye on the weather forecast when scheduling service appointments. It’s not just the weather during sealcoating application day, either. Because curing is a slow, multi-day process, sealcoating companies must ensure optimal conditions several days after application.
What Are the Ideal Conditions for Sealcoating in Morgantown WV?
Let’s talk about what the “perfect” conditions are for parking lot or driveway sealer. As mentioned earlier, asphalt sealers are available in a wide range of formulas. However, most have similar recommendations.
Asphalt sealcoating companies prefer to apply parking lot and driveway sealer when temperatures are around 70 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity is below 50 to 60 percent. They also like a light breeze of 3 to 5 MPH and several hours of direct sunlight.
In those conditions, asphalt sealcoating will cure properly, bonding to the pavement for years of lasting protection.
What Conditions Are Acceptable for Sealcoating in Morgantown WV?
While Morgantown sealcoating companies love ideal conditions, there are only a few days each year when every parameter meets the mark. Luckily, things don’t have to be that precise. Asphalt sealers offer plenty of wiggle room, giving contractors more leeway when scheduling service appointments.
•Temperature: Most parking lot and driveway sealers will perform at temperatures as low as 50 degrees. Anything cooler, and curing will slow significantly or not occur at all. On the upper end of the temperature spectrum, asphalt sealcoating companies avoid applying sealer when conditions reach around 90 degrees.
•Humidity: Most asphalt sealer manufacturers don’t provide guidelines about humidity. However, Morgantown sealcoating companies prefer humidity below 90 percent, as anything above could interfere with evaporation and curing.
•Wind: Contractors can apply sealer in winds up to 10 MPH, but experts will be wary about strong gusts that could move the product around too much as it cures.
•Sun Exposure: At a minimum, sealcoating needs four hours of direct sunlight. However, more is always better.
When Is the Best Time for Sealcoating?
The best time for sealcoating is during spring and summer. The busy season for Morgantown sealcoating companies runs from late spring to early fall. Every year is different, but you can expect contractors to start taking service appointments around May to October.
During that time, conditions are acceptable for sealcoating day and night, ensuring proper curing.
Let BlackTop Paving & Asphalt Sealcoating handle all your asphalt needs. We’re a trusted asphalt paving and maintenance company offering a range of services, including new paving, repairs, resurfacing, parking lot striping, crack repairs, snow plowing, dirt work, parking lot drainage, and more.
As a full-service company, we have what it takes to meet your pavement’s needs year-round, offering quality results that make a difference for your property. Call BlackTop Paving & Asphalt Sealcoating at (304) 592-5509, email Erskineblacktopservices@gmail.com, or submit your information through our online form to get in touch, learn more, and request a free project quote.
