Services

Sealcoating Choices

The crux of the whole asphalt sealing business is the sealant, more specifically the type of sealant that should be used. There are essentially two choices:

Petroleum-based asphalt sealant
Coal tar (a waste product of the coking industry)

Jimmy's Sealcoating uses Asphalt Driveway Sealant, made by Seal Master.

Driveway Deterioration

There are two main causes of driveway deterioration:

Surface asphalt oxidation caused by constant exposure to the sun
Application of coal tar sealant to your driveway’s surface

Cause #1 - Surface asphalt oxidation caused by exposure to the sun.

Over time, the oxidizing effect of the sun on your driveway causes the asphalt on the surface to dry out. (That’s why the surface turns gray.)This oxidation depletes the asphalt’s ability to hold the stone together. The use of asphalt-based sealant on your driveway alleviates this problem. Since asphalt-based sealant actually contains asphalt, it has the revitalizing/restorative properties necessary to maintain the surface integrity of your driveway. (The idea is similar to the preserving properties that oil-based stain delivers when applied to wood siding or decking.)

Coal Tar Sealant Deterioration

Cause #2 - Using coal tar sealant will cause your driveway to deteriorate.

BEWARE! Consistent use of coal tar sealant will actually cause your driveway to crack and deteriorate. This is a huge problem that sealcoating companies that use coal tar will NEVER tell you.

It doesn’t make sense to use a water-based/latex product like coal tar on a petroleum-based surface like asphalt. Most homeowners are not aware that they have a choice.

Why Do They Use It?

So why do the vast majority of sealcoating companies in this area use this product? Because it’s a lot less expensive. (Dare I say, cheap? It’s sometimes mixed with up to 50% water.) The companies that use coal tar certainly don’t go around advertising the fact that there’s a better product on the market. An uninformed consumer is their best customer.

The application of coal tar sealant is equivalent to painting the surface of your driveway with a latex emulsion; it simply coats your driveway, but has no revitalizing benefits.

Why Does it Cause Deterioration?

Why does consistent use of this product cause cracking and deterioration of your driveway? Because while it’s true that coal tar will seal your driveway’s surface, it seals it so tightly that it prohibits the asphalt’s natural ability to expand. Asphalt expansion is extremely important when you consider how searing hot your driveway gets in the summer. This is a critical issue and here’s why: In the summer heat, build-up remains trapped under the surface of a coal-tarred driveway. Because coal tar doesn’t expand, the only way for this heat to escape is by cracking the surface of the coal tar seal, which results in the spider cracking of your driveway’s surface. (see picture at the top of this page)

Is it any wonder that companies that use coal tar don’t want you to know about this?

We Use the Better Option

As stated above, if allowed an asphalt surface will expand in the summertime to release heat. Like the asphalt t seals, asphalt-based sealer will expand and contract with changes in temperature. This allows your driveway surface to breathe and release heat to prevent surface cracking. This quality - in addition to its rejuvenating and beautifying properties - makes it the superior choice for driveway sealing.

Just take a walk around your neighborhood and you’ll see the spider and alligator cracks in your neighbors’ driveways. It’s not because of the driveway’s age, but because they’re getting sealed with coal tar.

USE THE GOOD STUFF

Pothole Patching

We are proud to offer some of the most experienced and well trained team members in the area. Each member of our staff is fully capable of assisting with your projects from start to finish and to make sure the job is completed efficiently and correctly. We take our industry seriously and understand that you have several options available. We appreciate the opportunity to show you how we stand out from our competitors and want to earn your recommendation and future business. Contact us today with your questions and let us help you get started.

Crack Filling

We are proud of the reputation we've built upon consistent, repeatable results. And, we are proud that many of our previous clients continue to come to us with new projects. We treat every project as an opportunity to earn your recommendation and your continued business. Our team is highly motivated to make sure your project is successful and you can continue to apply solutions to continue to seek further growth, success, and exceed your goals. We do this with a consistent application of best practices and experience in the industry to ensure results are repeatable each time.

Line Striping

We are dedicated to providing robust, durable solutions that provide years of service. We deliver this by using the highest quality materials and the proper techniques to ensure that your solution is customized to your needs and will last. We also ensure that you understand how to use your solutions to continue to meet your goals. And, as always, or dedicated team of experienced professionals is ready to help with your questions or concerns.

Contact us today to learn more about our solutions and to find out how we can meet your needs, both today and into the future.