Southwest Florida: Seal Coat Your Driveway or Parking Lot

Did you know that in only a few hours, dull, washed out asphalt pavement could be restored and look brand new? Seal coating any asphalt surface can work like magic in the construction, contracting world. Sealant is a necessary solution in order to maintain your driveway or parking lot properly, and it is something you can’t skip to save on costs. It actually helps prevent high repair expenses in the long-run.

To be brief, seal coating is a thin, black liquid layer added over a paved surface to protect it from damage and destruction. Does it seem simple enough? It won’t cure existing cracks or potholes, but it will stop damage from forming in the first place. It’s a ‘shield’ that helps guard it from certain elements –Rain, oil spills or leaks, heavy traffic flow, UV rays, etc. This is primarily important as we move closer to summer (rainy season) in Southwest Florida, and strong precipitation can weaken driveways or parking lots. Since seal coating protects it against all these problems, it will certainly extend the years on the blacktop. Seal coating helps fight the common enemy, water. An exposed driveway or unsealed tarmac is vulnerable to the elements, in particular water damage.

Also, seal coating blocks the drying effects of the strong sun. When you live in Florida, you can’t avoid the scorching sun on hot days. Just like dermatologists recommend wearing sunscreen even in the cold months, seal coating fills surface voids and helps preserve the asphalt. Asphalt is a petroleum product, and when auto fluids such as oil and gas fall on the surface, it can melt into the pavement. This softens it and eventually causes breakage and cracks. The mess is bound to happen eventually, especially in a busy parking lot, but while you can clean up the spills, it’s far easier to protect the parking lot from the damage with sealant.

On a different note, the finished project can improve the appearance on your parking lot or driveway! Seal coating creates an attractive, black color that immediately boosts the look of your asphalt and the overall ‘beauty’ of your property. The substance is ideal for painting lines and other marks on parking spots. It also provides a smooth, non-porous surface that will allow rain to simply wash dirt and debris away to keep it clean for days on end. Experts with the knowledge and time can help with all your pavement needs, from designing to line striping and seal coating.

You might ask an expert, how often should I seal coat my pavement? It's important to note that you shouldn't sealcoat it too frequently. Believe it or not, you risk making it worse and wearing it down. As to how often, depends on certain factors. Does your pavement receive a lot of traffic? Is your parking lot or driveway exposed to a lot of elements? Preferably, you should sealcoat once every 3 years.

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‘DIY’ Line Striping: Yes or No?

By Alyssa Stoner • March 10, 2023

Are you interested in line stripping your commercial property? Line striping’s main purpose is to increase the safety of a parking lot, from restaurants to large plazas. When parking lot lines are well-marked on the pavement, drivers know how to maneuver in the area without any problems, and the suggested colors also make a difference. This means more time in your place of business and less time in traffic jams or confusion with other drivers and walking pedestrians. Clear traffic routes, areas where parking is not allowed, and which spots are reserved for handicapped, help your clientele steer comfortably and safely around the property. Parking lot line striping is a necessity, but can it be done by you or is a professional more equipped to handle the job in less time? It comes down to if you want to get your hands a little dirty and save some money. When starting a ‘DIY’ (do it yourself) line striping project, there are ways to paint new parking lines or cover up old ones. You can use a paint roller and carefully paint by hand over a distinct line, and you should purchase a high-quality traffic paint to guarantee your results will last. For a neater, less stressful technique, you can use a handy line machine to paint straight lines on any asphalt or concrete surface like a pro! In this case, the asphalt machine is the modern equipment you need, but these machines vary in price, size and capabilities. Professionals will have their own required equipment from start to finish and make it easier on you. Prep work is included and whatever surface you’re painting needs to be clean. For asphalt and concrete parking structures, you need to sweep and blow, then pressure wash the whole area for a tidy workspace. This will prevent paint from flaking and peeling off later. The look of the parking lines has a lot to do with the colors and types of paint you choose. Yellow is the traditional color for the stripes, but blue is growing in popularity in some areas, especially shopping malls. Keep in mind, certain stencils, such as handicapped spots have legal requirements for color, size and shape. The basic steps to follow are clean the area well, layout striping lines and handicaps, paint lines by spray paint or a rented machine, follow local and federal codes regarding the layout, let barricaded paint dry for 24 hours, and clean up the mess when you’re finished! While some business owners like to paint their parking lots themselves, we suggest that you rely on professional contractors for a job well-done. Before you make the decision to either do it yourself, or hire a professional service, you should know that measurements are crucial and seal coating the parking lot is something to think about. Also, pavement striping must comply with certain guidelines and dimensions. Therefore, getting them wrong could cost more money in the long run. (239) 267-1711 www.fortmyerssealcoat.com

The Perfect Parking Lot: Does Design Really Matter?

By Alyssa Stoner • March 1, 2023

Parking lots are tougher to design and plan than many people might think. From start to finish, they require complex codes to be precise and accurate –even more if the parking lot is intended to have a large sum of money put into the project. The best possible lot looks different to every passer-by, but there are a few things that designers can implement to make the layout practical and aesthetically satisfying. The lot owner and designer have several aspects to consider such as finding the right location that will last for years to come with very little maintenance, choosing the right angles that make it easier for larger cars to park in spots rather than at a 90 degree angle, meeting city requirements and keeping it compliant. Bearing in mind, proper lighting is also a factor when creating the perfect parking lot and adding to the complete design. People feel safer driving and parking at night when there are more large lights around. Ample, sufficient lighting will help bring more public in during any time of the day and it won’t affect any businesses. Even if the parking lot won’t be used after business hours, developers must know that nighttime begins during business hours for half the year. Illumination can show off a parking lot more and allows anyone to find their parking sports easily and quickly, all while feeling secure. Adding landscape is a feature that adds to the design –from trees to shrubbery. By adding more greenery, a parking lot can become more attractive, visually eye-opening and tempts people to park, especially if the landscape generates plenty of shade on a hot day. Trees can also create a calm atmosphere and help with anxiety. It may not appear to be as open, but landscape can make a difference. Don’t forget to increase water drainage! Would you like to walk through a big parking lot full of water after a rainy, summer day in Southwest Florida? It poses as an issue for both cars and pedestrians. Accidents or collisions can take place, such as hydroplaning or someone slipping and falling leaving a building or plaza. By including drains, lots can avoid water hazards and lawsuits, as long as the drains are large enough to clear the water quickly. Large drains on the ground might be ugly and not very likable for designers, but it will prevent accidents from occurring in a new lot that needs plenty of traffic to be a success. All in all, building the perfect parking lot is only as good as its design. A parking lot is hard work, takes time, money and building it from the ground up is important to creating the best parking lot for any area. The professional contract, asphalt experts will help. (239) 267-1711 www.fortmyerssealcoat.com

Asphalt & Elements: What Can Rain Do To Asphalt Paving?

By Alyssa Stoner • February 23, 2023

Scheduling asphalt paving projects can be tricky –Does the job have a finished date in the work contract? One thing is for certain, we can’t control the weather. If you want to start the task with a trained professional, asphalt paving depends a lot on weather conditions and temperatures. The material doesn’t stand alone when it comes to these factors, even after it’s been laid down. From season to season in Southwest Florida, you want your tarmac to look good, durable and new. Rain can be the enemy because it puts any construction plans on hold and will extend the completion date. Not only that, a newly paved asphalt surface (parking lot or residential driveway) that was cemented months ago are open to severe damage during heavy rainfall or destructive weather conditions. In general, asphalt can’t be installed when it’s raining –Coordinate a good time before summer time approaches! If asphalt is laid out during a rain shower of any kind, or even immediately after, it will change it. Most of the time, you need to wait a few days for the ground around the project to dry out before a professional begins the paving process. This is simply because asphalt mixtures contain oil, and oil and water react harmfully in this case. When water hits fresh tarmac, it causes the oil to rise to the surface which can affect the drying time and the overall completed look, as well as the quality of the asphalt. Rain also jeopardizes the strength of the subsoil. If the soil is wet, it turns soft and this makes it a poor surface to pave on, which will put a hold on the project time. Experts need a strong, steady surface before installing blacktop on a driveway, road or commercial parking lot. There are two key issues with installing asphalt pavement in the rain. First off, rain will make it dry faster as it hits the top coat. It will also speed up the cooling process if the foundation is soaking wet. This specific detail can cause steam to form between the asphalt and the foundation, compromising the mechanism. Secondly, the asphalt must be compacted properly to form a tough bond. It is more complicated to achieve enough compaction in the rain. If your blacktop is already completed, what should you do to prevent rain from future damage? You can take a few steps to minimize the cause it has on pavement. Fill and repair tiny cracks in a timely manner, seal your asphalt to keep it “waterproof”, rotate the location of where you park your car, and clean any chemical spills to prevent premature aging. You can always reschedule due to weather circumstances, but contact your contractor and get the job started! (239) 267-1711 www.fortmyerssealcoat.com