Q: What is Sealcoating?
A: Sealcoating is a preventative maintenance measure that helps protect your driveway from deteriorating. The deterioration may be a result of many circumstances including the weather, gasoline spills, oil leaks, alkaline, ice-melt/salt, the sun's rays and oxidation. Sealcoating refers to the process of working a protective layer of asphalt emulsion into your asphalt in order to better safeguard the asphalt from these elements and prolong your investment. The sealer will also increase the aesthetic appearance of your driveway and property.
Q: What Happens if it Rains?
A: McMillan Asphalt Sealcoating will try its best to seal your driveway when rain is not expected but sometimes the weather is beyond our control. In the summer months, our product will not splash after about an hour of sun exposure. We will perform the service again at no charge.
Q: Why Sealmaster Products?
A: McMillan Asphalt Sealcoating will use only the top of the line Sealmaster products. It is a Asphalt based sealant that contains silica sand for traction. There are other options out there but I would not put anything down on your driveway that I would not put down on my own driveway. Oil based products leave your driveway slick and unsafe and the oil actually corrodes the driveway surface over time.
Q: How often does it need to be done?
A: McMillan Asphalt Sealcoating recommends that you seal your driveway roughly every 2 years depending on the wear your asphalt exhibits. This will provide adequate protection and it avoids the "glassy" appearance that results from over-sealing. Over-sealing is both unsafe and makes your driveway more likely to develop spider cracks. We will keep track of the year in which your driveway was last sealed and notify you as to when you may want to consider sealing it again.
Q: Is Sealcoating a Permanent Cure for Cracks?
A: Sealcoating your asphalt properly will repair cracks temporarily and will keep the situation from growing significantly worse over time. Cracks may reopen after a rough winter but the crack filler & asphalt emulsion that has been worked into them will keep them from growing larger. asphalt emulsion
Q: What types of asphalt damage can be fixed?
A: When evaluating how damaged your driveway is please keep in mind some simple pointers:
Spider Cracks (thin splits in the driveway surface that look like a spider web) are normal and can be caused by any number of occurrences including shifting, settling, snow blowers, and snowplows. These cracks will be repaired temporarily but they will likely reappear after one winter. They do not seriously threaten the integrity of your driveway.
Deep holes, ½ - ¾ inch wide cracks and frost heaves are not normal and may cause erosion and structural damage that will compromise the integrity of your driveway. McMillan Asphalt Sealcoating will fix these problems though they will have to be tended to on a regular basis to keep the problem from becoming worse.
Q: Can I Do It Myself?
A: Of course you can. I am a do it myself person when it comes to my house too. However, business aside, this is a job that you would be better off contracting out to McMillan Asphalt Sealcoating a few reasons:
1. It's Worth It! -- You will not spend significantly more money by contracting it out to McMillan Asphalt Sealcoating . After you are done buying materials and supplies and ruin a pair of shoes you will have spent roughly 75% of the cost our company will quote you.
2. It's a Tough Job for One for Person! - McMillan Asphalt Sealcoating uses a 2-person team to apply the sealer correctly. We work it into the asphalt in both directions and seal all edges. It takes 2-3 people over an hour to do it correctly. It would take one person 3-4 hours to do the same job correctly. We know that time is money and our goal is to save you both.
3. It Can Get Hot and Dirty! -- If done correctly, Sealcoating is brutal work (at best!). This job is properly performed on a hot summer day and it involves carrying heavy buckets and a good amount of physical labor to clean the driveway and work the sealer in properly. Any one person can slop the sealer down and push it. But this is not the appropriate approach. To do it correctly is not easy work for the light at heart.
Q: Are There Any Discounts Being Offered?
A: Yes! Below are a list of all the discounts we are currently offering. If you organize a group of 3-5 neighbors. Please let us know if this is your intention when you call.
The Preferred Customer Discount: We will take 10% off of your future driveway sealing costs for every customer you refer to us that results in a job being completed. So please let your family, friends and neighbors know to mention your name when calling to have their driveway sealed.