5 Signs That An Asphalt Carpark May Need Its Sprayed Seal Renewed

Asphalt is an excellent material for carpark construction because of its longevity and resistance to wear. However, eventually even the most well-built asphalt carpark will start to show its age.

In asphalt carparks with sprayed sealant coatings, the thin layer of surface sealant can be worn down by many years of use, causing it to wear out and exposing the raw asphalt and aggregate beneath. This can lead to a wide variety of problems which can make a carpark more difficult or even dangerous to use for your customers. If you notice any of the following signs of spray sealant failure, have the carpark in question resealed immediately by a professional spray sealing contractor.

Faded grey asphalt

A newly laid, spray sealed asphalt carpark is a distinctive glossy black; this is caused primarily by the presence of bitumen in the asphalt, but the layer of spray seal also darkens the asphalt. When the spray seal wears away after many years of use, the asphalt beneath can start to become paler and greyer. This is particularly common in unsheltered carpark, since the asphalt is also 'bleached' by UV radiation.

An unusually grey asphalt carpark is not exactly a major concern, but it does signify that the carpark needs a new layer of spray seal. Failure to act quickly can lead to other, more serious problems as the unprotected asphalt experiences wear.

Standing water during wet weather

One of the most important functions of an asphalt carpark's spray seal is protecting the asphalt beneath from water damage. Once dried and cured, a spray seal becomes waterproof, allowing rainwater and moisture to run freely across its surface and into nearby drains.

When this waterproof seal wears out, water will move more slowly across the bare asphalt's surface, causing pools of standing water to appear in your carpark during wet weather. These puddles can cause problems for pedestrians, and may lead to widespread flooding of the carpark during particularly heavy rains. Having the carpark's spray seal renewed will help prevent these drainage problems.

Small cracks

When an asphalt surface's spray seal degrades and allows moisture through, the asphalt itself quickly begins to degrade and crumble, causing small cracks to appear on its surface. Widespread but minor cracking across the surface of an asphalt carpark is a classic sign of spray seal failure. 

Resealing with a new coat of spray seal will stop the water damage from getting worse and help bind the damaged surface together. However, if larger cracks have started to appear in the carpark's surface, these will need to be professionally filled in and repaired before the carpark can be resealed. Click to learn more about carpark sealing.

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