Protect Your Pavement From the Elements

Over the past three decades, Pavement Specialties of Idaho Inc., in conjunction with Eterna-Line Corporation of Idaho, has honed and refined our materials and methods toward maximizing the maintenance benefit for each dollar spent. We have gained experience by working with different state DOT programs, nearly every federal agency - FHWA, FAA, ABLM, BiA, Army Corps of Engineers, Navy, AF, as well as countless counties, cities, and private parties. We have been included in many experimental trial programs. This commitment has allowed us to learn, develop, and equip for many different materials, construction methods, and application procedures. We are dedicated to continuing investment and training.

Research has demonstrated that properly applied - and properly timed - seal coat can save the owner of a property tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the pavement. Sealcoating can save real dollars for pavement owners. Unsealed pavement can require repairs starting in the second year and could, in some cases, require an overlay or extensive repairs prematurely.

Pavement Specialties recommends seal coating 6-12 months after initial pavement installation. This time frame will allow proper curing of the asphalt. However, shorter time frames between paving and seal coating in many cases will create better adhesion, due to the high oil content of the asphalt, providing up to 30% longer wear-life of the seal coat. Sealcoating decreases the ability for water to penetrate the asphalt, reducing potential hydraulic pumping and failure of the sub-grade due to water penetration.

Prior to seal coating, it is recommended that you repair any structural damage to the asphalt. The most common repair is crack filling. The following are the most common crack repair approaches we use.

Pavement Specialties recommends cracks in parking areas be blown clean and filled. Many times the parking lot industry will adopt government specifications, recommending routing of the crack prior to filling. Due to the low traffic volume of parking areas vs. roadways, and the lack of constant kneading of the asphalt created by traffic, a parking lot will often turn brittle, causing an excessive expansion in routed cracks. Crack fill material for parking lots will meet ASTM 5078-95 or ASTM 5078-90 specifications.

Roadway specifications usually follow government specifications. Normal procedures require routing of cracks, which are 1/4" to 1/2" and have not been previously filled. Existing cracks that have been filled will require cleaning by a heat lance, with air. The standard specification for crack fill product for this application is ASTM 3405.

Here is a list of Pavement Specialties standard parking lot and roadway sealers:

• Pro-Seal
• Pro-Master Seal