5 Mistakes You May See From a Wilmington DE Sealcoating Contractor

While there’s much you can do to keep your asphalt paving in fantastic shape, asphalt sealcoating is among the most important. This vital service safeguards your pavement from weathering, wear and more. Hiring an experienced Wilmington DE sealcoating contractor is paramount. Despite how simple this service looks, it can go wrong in many ways. Here are five common mistakes that inexperienced sealcoating companies might make.

1. Should Wilmington DE Sealcoating Contractors Visit My Property Before Providing a Quote?

Contractors can provide rough quotes for sealcoating based on square footage alone. However, you should never sign a legally binding contract before sealcoating companies visit your property for a full, in-person inspection. Sealcoating is more complex than it looks, and many factors will impact how much it costs to seal your pavement. These include the overall condition of the paving, the amount of prep work it needs, the level of wear it experiences and more.

Providing a quote without visiting your property to understand the scope of the job is a huge mistake. From a client standpoint, this faux pas often results in wasted time, inaccurate estimates and potential over- or under-paying for service.

2. What Are the Risks of Asphalt Sealcoating Companies Not Getting Insurance?

To perform sealcoating in Baltimore MD, contractors should have worker’s compensation and general liability insurance. These insurance policies help to protect you and the asphalt sealcoating company you’re hiring. Things can go wrong when completing parking lot or driveway sealcoating projects. There’s always the risk of personal injury or property damage. If the contractor you hire doesn’t have insurance, you may be liable for those accidents.

Unfortunately, some less-experienced sealcoating companies forgo insurance to cut costs. However, they’ll deal with bigger problems if things go awry during a job.

3. Why Should Sealcoating Companies Add Sand When Preparing the Sealer?

Asphalt sealcoating companies must prepare the asphalt emulsion sealers they use. Every manufacturer provides directions on how to prepare the product for optimal results. However, some sealcoating contractors will do things differently to cut corners. One common mistake is not using sand.

Sand improves durability, provides traction and gives the product the right consistency. Without it, all that’s left is watered-down asphalt emulsion. It might look OK initially, but the lack of sand will lead to quick pealing and lackluster protection.

4. What Happens If a Wilmington DE Sealcoating Contractor Doesn’t Prepare My Pavement?

Before sealcoating in Baltimore MD, contractors must prepare the pavement. The sealer will only bond to clean and dry paving. If there’s a layer of filth on the surface, the sealer will peel away faster than you think. Reputable asphalt sealcoating companies will inspect the pavement, sweep trash, wash away grime, pretreat soil stains and more.

This extra work is time-consuming, but it’s vital. A lack of prep results in a low-quality, short-lived finish.

5. Can Contractors Save Time By Applying Thick Coats When Performing Parking Lot or Driveway Sealcoating?

Here’s another way inexperienced contractors try to cut corners during driveway sealcoating or parking lot maintenance projects. Successful sealcoating in Baltimore MD requires teams to lay on two or more thin coats. When applied as one thick coat, the sealer can cure evenly. The top may harden first, trapping moisture below to prevent evaporation. The sealer will remain soft even after several days of curing. Attempting to use the pavement will lead to tire tracking, peeling and flaking.

When you want to get asphalt sealcoating without worrying about these issues, turn to Apex Asphalt Services. At Apex, we strive to do things right the first time, no matter how long things take. We don’t skimp on quality to save time or money. Your satisfaction is our ultimate goal, and the team works hard to exceed your expectations. In addition to sealcoating, we do asphalt repairs, crack repair, parking lot striping, pavement markings, sport court installation and more.

Call Apex Asphalt Services today at (410)688-5357, email hunterwiggins@apexasphaltservices.com or use our online form to discuss your needs and get a free quote.