Sealcoating in Ontario, CA

Sealcoating puts a thin protective layer over asphalt pavement. In Ontario, where the sun shines most days and summer highs average in the 90s, ultraviolet light and heat dry out the asphalt binder faster than in cooler climates. Unprotected pavement turns gray, then starts to lose fine sand and small stones from the surface. A sealcoat replaces that worn top film, keeps oil and gas from soaking in, and gives the pavement a uniform black finish.

When to seal

New asphalt needs to cure first. HomeGuide recommends waiting 3 to 6 months after paving. After that, resealing every few years is typical; HomeAdvisor suggests every two to five years for parking lots, and HomeGuide gives a range of 2 to 10 years depending on the sealant and climate. In practice, when the surface has turned noticeably gray and you can see the stones, it is time.

Weather

Sealer needs dry pavement and moderate temperatures to cure. HomeGuide puts the range at 50 to 95 degrees. That makes spring and fall the easiest seasons in the Inland Empire. In midsummer we work in the morning, before the pavement gets too hot. Rain is rare from May through October, which helps, but we watch the forecast in winter. Cure time before driving is typically 12 to 72 hours.

What goes into a proper sealcoat

• Cleaning: sweeping and blowing the surface, and treating oil spots so the sealer bonds
• Crack filling: open cracks are filled first, because sealer alone does not bridge them
• Edging: hand work along curbs, garage slabs and planters
• Application: sealer sprayed or squeegeed on in one or two coats
• Barricades: the area is blocked off until it has cured

Sealer types

Most sealers are either refined-tar (coal tar) or asphalt emulsion. HomeGuide notes that coal tar has been banned in many places because of health and environmental concerns, and that asphalt polymer emulsions are considered more environmentally friendly. We use asphalt-based emulsion sealers. Ontario is also in the South Coast air district, which regulates volatile organic compounds in coatings, another reason water-based emulsions are the standard here.

Sealcoating is not a repair

A sealcoat protects pavement that is still structurally sound. It does not fix potholes, alligator cracking or ruts. If we see those, we include patching in the quote or tell you that the area needs repair first.