Sealcoating & Crack Sealing in Greensboro, NC

Sealcoating and crack sealing are the two maintenance steps that do the most to extend the life of asphalt. Crack sealing fills open cracks so water cannot reach the stone base and the clay below. Sealcoating puts a thin protective coat over the surface to slow the drying and fading caused by sun and oxygen. Neither one adds strength to failing pavement, so both belong on asphalt that is still structurally sound.

Why it matters in the Triad

Greensboro averages about 75 nights a year at or below freezing, and freezing rain is common in the Piedmont. When water sits in a crack and freezes, it widens the crack a little more each time. In summer, long, hot, humid stretches oxidize the surface and turn it gray. Filling cracks in late summer or fall and sealing every few years cuts down both kinds of damage.

Crack sealing first

We clean each crack with air, and on wider cracks we route or rout them out so the filler has a clean edge to bond to. Hot-pour rubberized filler stays flexible as the pavement expands and contracts. Wide alligator-cracked areas are not good candidates for crack filling; they need patching.

Preparing for sealcoat

• Blowing and sweeping the surface, including along edges
• Scraping and priming oil and fuel stains so the sealer bonds
• Filling cracks before sealing so sealer does not just sink into them
• Edging by hand along garage slabs, walks and curbs

Skipping prep is the usual reason a seal job peels within a season.

When to seal

HomeGuide advises waiting 3 to 6 months after paving before the first coat, and resealing every 2 to 10 years depending on the product and weather. The working range is 50 to 95 degrees in dry weather, and cars should stay off for 12 to 72 hours afterward. In Greensboro that usually means spring and fall, plus dry summer mornings.

Sealer types

HomeGuide notes that coal tar sealers resist fuel stains but have been banned in many places over health and environmental concerns, while asphalt emulsion sealers are considered more environmentally friendly but stain more easily from gas and oil. We tell you which product we plan to use before the job.