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Blacktop sealers are an essential product for any homeowner or business owner with a driveway, parking lot or other asphalt surface. There are several different kinds of sealers on the market today. Here’s a brief look at the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Asphalt Emulsion
This asphalt emulsion for sealcoating is made from the same material used in your driveway. The main advantage is the darker color, but it is the second best choice in areas where coal tar cannot be used. With coal tar shortages taking place, asphalt emulsion is the best sealer alternative.
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These coatings are water resistant, but not UV resistant. They fade relatively quickly and may only last for a single season, which means applications will need to happen more often.
Related: Why Choose Asphalt Emulsion Sealer For Your Next Job
Oil-Based
The oil-based solutions for sealcoating asphalt have virtually no advantages. They do not protect against UV rays or petroleum products. The odor is distinct and lasts for days. Taking up to seven days, the cure time is the longest of all common sealer options, which is an important consideration for property owners who need to paint lines.
Fast-Dry
Fast-dry blacktop sealers cure in less than an hour and are used primarily by road crews and owners of large parking lots. Being difficult to buy in small quantities and having a higher price tag, though, it is generally considered to be a bad choice for homeowners.
Luckily for contractors and property managers, there are sealer additives on the market that can be mixed in with pavement sealer to create a faster-drying product. There are other benefits of using additives like FSA or Fass-Dri, such as a darker sealcoating finish.
Acrylic
Using acrylic for seal coating asphalt is an expensive choice. In fact, it is the most expensive choice. Despite the cost, acrylic sealer has a number of benefits. It is durable, UV resistant, weather resistant and classified as environmentally friendly. It is also available in different colors, which makes it a popular choice for tennis courts and shopping mall parking lots. Depending on the traffic, it can even last as long as seven years before it needs to be reapplied.
All the above advantages and disadvantages considered, most professionals recommend coal tar emulsion because of its affordability and durability.
Visit our shop to explore sealer options from Asphalt Kingdom, or call us at 1-866-399-5562 to discuss all your sealer options including bulk tanker loads and in-plant tank fillups.
Not sure how much to buy? Use our blacktop calculator to determine how much sealer you need for your sealcoating jobs.
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