Ace Asphalt Blog Asphalt Sealing: Protect your parking lot from sun damage

The sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays damage your asphalt in much the same way as they do skin. What was once new and vibrant, is suddenly ... not. Face it. Your asphalt is looking cracked, dull ... just tired. It needs an anti-aging treatment to repair sun damage, STAT!Here's why: During the hot - really hot - summer months, air temperatures in the Southwest are often in the triple digits. Take that temperature and add 40 to 60 more degrees and you have the temperature of the surface of your parking lot. Talk about feeling the burn!When sun beats on skin, it damages DNA. When it beats on your parking lot, asphalt's "DNA" is damaged, too. Much like skin's collagen, the chemical bonds that give your pavement strength, deteriorate. The right treatment can repair sun damage and reset the clock on parking lot deterioration. Here are four types of asphalt sealing you could apply to care for your paved surface:Seal CoatLike an anti-aging sunblock for your asphalt parking lot and roadway, seal coat contains anti-oxidation additives to help minimize raveling and protect asphalt from additional damage from the elements. It's one of the most cost-effective treatments available to maintain your asphalt's surface.Slurry SealSlurry seal is similar to seal coat, acting to protect pavement. It contains a thicker aggregate that helps fill in and smooth away the fine lines that appear over time. It makes your asphalt's "skin" look younger, instantly.MicrosurfacingMicrosurfacing uses polymers and residual content as well as better quality aggregate to perk up your parking lot and create a newer-looking surface. With results visible in less than 1 hour!TRMSSTire Rubber Modified Surface Seal (TRMSS) protects and extends your pavement's life by acting like a moisturizer, replacing essential surface oils, securing loose aggregates, and preventing damage caused by oxidation, weather, and traffic.If you're seeing asphalt deterioration due to years of prolonged sun exposure, contact the experts at Ace Asphalt. We'll apply the latest age-defying pavement maintenance techniques, and get your parking lot looking youthful again. STAT!