Kelly Asphalt - Questions

Questions & News and Information...

Pavement Maintenance will Save you Money...

Today, with the proven methods of maintaining your asphalt, and with the high cost of replacing your asphalt investment, it only makes sense to Maintain it... By a regular Maintenance Program, you will extend it's life, keep it looking new, and save you money in the process... You just can't beat that !!!

"Why is Sealcoat so Important?" Asphalt is an interesting surface material. Our Industry actually markets the material as a flexible pavement. This claim arises from the way asphalt is made, asphalt cement, the material, holding together the small pieces of stone and sand. It's flexibility actually reduces cracking, when properly maintained. However, UV light from the sun, air and a host of other elements and chemicals will cause asphalt to lose it's flexibility. Sealcoat and Cracksealer are the best way to protect your asphalt investment. An added bonus when sealcoating your asphalt, is that it renews that deep rich satin-black look it had when it was new. By using a good quality coal-tar sealer on a regular basis, you can actually extend this flexibility in your asphalt surface. Sealcoat should first be applied within the first 2 to 12 months after installing your new asphalt surface. Then as you begin to see the wear, re-sealing is a good idea to keep your asphalt in top condition. This wearing effect will normally first be noticed at the entrance area, because of the "skidding effect" of vehicles as they turn into the drive or parking lot. A residential drive normally needs to be re-sealed every 2 to 4 years, and a commercial parking lot normally every 1 to 3 years. Kelly Asphalt Maintenance Co., modifies it's sealer to a "High Performance" sealer. Per the manufacturers recommendation, we add a polymer additive along with clean silica sand. This "High Performance" mixture improves the protective qualities, traction, and deepens that rich, satin black color.

"They don't sealcoat roads, Why should we Sealcoat our asphalt?" The difference between asphalt roads and your driveway or parking lot is mainly how it is used. A road has large volumes of traffic and is traveled at a higher speed. This heavy traffic and the speed of the traffic, creates a "kneading" effect much like kneading bread dough. This helps keep the asphalt more flexible. Secondly, the life expectancy of a road or highway, is shorter than your asphalt driveway or parking lot. Sealcoat extends the life of your asphalt, therefore saving you money.

"Can I Sealcoat my driveway myself?" Yes, you can purchase 5 gal. buckets of sealer at your local hardware store or from Kelly Asphalt. You will need a squeegee to apply the sealer. However, by calling a Professional, as Kelly Asphalt, you will often find, the cost will be very close, when you consider, ruining a pair of shoes and pants. Also, Kelly Asphalt Modifies the sealer with a polymer additive and silica sand to create a "High Performance" Sealcoat and we will apply the sealer by the most up to date method, keeping the sealcoat consistent, by continually agitating (mixed) during the entire process. And finally, complete your job quickly and easily.

Is Sealer bought at the hardware store the same as what Kelly Asphalt uses? Not Really, although you can buy coal-tar sealer in 5 gal. cans at your local hardware, at Kelly Asphalt Maintenance Co., we add several ingredients which improves our sealer to a "High Performance" Coal-Tar Sealer. Also, by using specialized equipment, we keep this admixture totally homogenized and consistent through the entire application. Our professional crew, can spot any problem areas during the "prep" of your asphalt, prior to sealcoating.

"My new asphalt has cracks?" There is one thing you can count on, your pavement will crack! Reputable Contractors, do everything possible to keep asphalt and concrete pavements from cracking, however it is impossible to stop cracking entirely... With excessively dry, followed by excessively wet... and especially in our area, with the freeze and thawing... all pavements will crack at some point. As vehicles drive on the edges, trees close with roots pushing under pavements, are additional factors which can attribute to cracking. Cracking is something we all have to deal with. Cracks in asphalt can be easily repaired, and cracks 1/4'' or wider should be repaired as soon as it is possible. A regular scheduled maintenance program, will lesson the amount of cracking, and will keep your asphalt investment looking new for many years.

"Why Crackseal, and Repair my Asphalt?" As cracks develop on your asphalt surface, it is important to keep the rain and ice from getting under the asphalt and damaging the integrity of your stone base. It is recommend you crackseal any cracks 1/4" or wider in width. There are two types of crackfill, Hot Crackfill and Cold Pour Crackfill. Both Hot Rubberized and Cold pour types have their place in our industry and on your asphalt. However, when using Hot Pour type, in a parking lot or driveway, it is important to be a rubberized, Non-Tracking type... Cracks left un-repaired, or areas with oil / gas damage, often develop into "Potholes" or "Gatored" Areas. These areas need repaired as quick as possible, and normally will require the failed area to be saw cut, removed, the stone base repaired, and patched back. If these areas are not repaired, the moisture from rain and snow, will allow further deterioration of the stone base, damaging a much larger area.

"Will Salt Harm my Asphalt Pavement?" No... unlike concrete, salt and chemicals will not harm sealcoated asphalt. Also the deep black color of fresh sealcoat helps melt snow and ice off your asphalt when the sun is out.

"Someone told me my Taxes won't increase?" I have been ask this many times. My answer has always been, ask your real estate tax auditor or an accountant. I am sure that if this is true, it would very by location. Just as I recommend you have a Professional Contractor do your work, I would suggest you ask a Tax Professional, if it is true that Asphalt will not increase my property taxes and concrete will?

"Should I Sealcoat my new Asphalt right away?" No... Asphalt needs a ''curing'' time before you can sealcoat. Normally this takes somewhere around 60 to 120 days, depending on the time of year, heat from the sun, and many other factors. If you seal it too soon, you can trap ''oils'' in the asphalt, which will keep your new asphalt soft, and not allow it to cure properly. A rule of thumb, asphalt should be sealcoated within the first year, then every 2 to 4 years thereafter. A regular maintenance program will extend the life of your asphalt investment and save you money and at the same time keep your asphalt looking new.

"When is the best time of year too Sealcoat?" It is recommended to have a minimum temperature of 50 degrees for applying sealcoat. During the early spring and late fall, we add an additional ingredient, "Fast Dry" which improves the drying time. Time of the year is not the important factor, temperature is. Crackseal can be applied anytime the cracks are free of moisture. We quote work all year long.

"How long do we have to stay off our asphalt after Sealcoating?" It is recommended that vehicle traffic stay off fresh sealcoat for a minimum of 24 hours. We can lessen this time, by adding a "quick dry" additive should you need to have your asphalt open to traffic before 24 hours. Foot traffic can walk on the sealcoat within hours, depending on the weather and temperature.

"I have oil spots on my asphalt" Cars occasionally leak oil on your asphalt. You should wash the effected spot with soap and a stiff broom, and rinse it off completely. We have found "Joy" Dishwater detergent to work the best. Oil and Gas Spots, left un-attended, can harm your asphalt. Our "High Performance" Coal Tar Sealcoat will help protect your asphalt from the damage caused by these oil drippings. Prior to Sealcoating, oil spots should be cleaned and treated too insure bonding of the sealcoat to your asphalt.

"Someone came to my door, said they had sealer left over and would give me a good Price" Many times there are "fly-by-night" companies who come into an area and go door to door. You need to know who you are dealing with, do they have a telephone number on their truck? Call that number to see if it is actually they're number. "remember, if the price is too good to be true, most likely it is." These people try to force a decision very quickly, so you do not have time to think about it. It is normal for companies having sealer left over from one job to the next. The best rule of thumb, know who you are dealing with! Are they going to be available if you have a problem? Ask them for references, if you do not know them, check out their references...

"What should I do special for motorcycle parking?" Asphalt is a flexible pavement, and kickstands can cause damage. Keep a small block of wood handy to put under your kickstand when parking a motorcycle on your asphalt. Likewise, put a block of wood under your jack stands on trailers, and consider parking the tires on a solid plank of wood to keep from leaving depressions on new asphalt.

"NOTICE - Spring time is the time for Gypsies or Fly-by-night contractors" Please keep alert as to who you are dealing with at all times, especially in the construction trade, but be more cautious in the spring time. These Gypsies or also known as Fly-by-Night people will make you offers to pave or sealcoat your driveway at a ridiculously low price... only later to find out you did not get anything close to what you paid for. I don't know how many folks have called me, asking what they can do with their driveway after one of these slick-talkers have finished dealing with them! More than not, I've had to tell them short of tearing it out and starting over, you will just have to live with it. The old saying "If it sounds to good to be true... most likely it isn't true" is certainly words of wisdom. Know who you are dealing with, ask for references and check them! Do they have names and telephone numbers on their trucks... call the telephone number! does it work, who answers the telephone? Call the Better Business Bureau, the local Chamber of Commerce, and or your local Sheriffs Office to see if they have any complaints on a company you do not know. Just please BEWARE... use reputable companies...

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