If your customers complain about the oil-stained appearance of your asphalt parking lot, you may pressure wash your lot to remove the stains. But if pressure washing doesn't make your lot look better, sealcoat it instead. Sealcoating helps repair chemically-stressed asphalt pavement right away. Learn more about chemically-stressed asphalt pavement and how sealcoating repairs it below.

What's Happening With Your Parking Lot?

The asphalt surface of your parking lot can take a beating throughout the year. Not only does your parking lot face hot temperatures and heavy rainfalls during the year, but it also experiences a great deal of chemical stress from your customers' vehicles. 

The chemicals from your visitors' vehicles can also break down and erode the surface of your lot. Motor oil and other engine fluids can leave behind dark stains or discoloration on your pavement as they dry in the hot sun. The stains may show up worse on faded asphalt pavement.    

Chemical stress can prematurely age and damage your parking lot before its time. If you allow a paving contractor to add a protective layer of sealcoat over the surface of your parking lot, you may be able to keep it from succumbing to chemical stress. 

Who Can Sealcoat Your Parking Lot?

Before a paving contractor sealcoats the surface of your lot, they must evaluate the overall condition of your lot first. Chemicals aren't the only things that can compromise the surface of your lot. Heat, weather, and moisture can also cause fade and degrade asphalt. A contractor will need to ensure chemical stress is the only problem your parking lot has right now.

If chemical damage is the only problem your lot has, a contractor can go ahead and prepare it for sealcoating. A paver will generally clean the surface of the pavement prior to sealing it. Dirty pavement can prevent sealcoat from adhering to it properly. 

A contractor may also need to add filler to your lot before they seal it. Filler helps cover up small cracks and other defects in pavement. A paving contractor may need to use large amounts of filler to repair the potholes in your lot.

Finally, a contractor will apply several layers of sealcoat to the surface of your lot. The layers must go on thick to successfully repair your lot. If your lot needs additional layers of sealcoat, a contractor will let you know before they apply it. 

A contractor will also offer you tips on how to maintain your lot after they sealcoat it, including how to clean your lot during the year. If necessary, a contractor can clean your lot for you.

Learn more about asphalt sealcoating by contacting a company near you.