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FAQs Q: Do you provide free estimates? A: Absolutely.
Q: Are you a licensed contractor? A: Yes. Since 2000, Rainier Asphalt has been fully licensed, bonded and insured in the State of Washington. Our contractor license is #RAINIAS991JO.
Q: What services do you provide? A: Asphalt seal-coating, crack filling, patching, line striping/stencils, parking lot design, ADA compliance, thermoplasty.
Q: I just paved a new parking lot. When should I seal it? A: You should wait at least 30 days to allow the oils to settle in and dry out. It is appropriate to seal after paving because it will fill in any areas that remain porous and will establish the beginning of a regular maintenance cycle. Unfortunately, most people are reactionary, rathan than preventative with regard to asphalt maintenance and wait to seal until after damaging has already happened.
Q: How much does it cost? A: Factors that will affect our prices are: units (i.e. square feet, lineal feet, etc.) condition of the asphalt, how much prep work may be required, and obstacles that will affect workflow, such as carports, curb stops, etc. When seal coating, asphalt in relatively good condition does not require nearly as much material and can be completed at a much lower cost, while older, "thirstier" asphalt, can require much more material. Patchwork is significantly more expensive than seal coating per foot. Striping, patch work, and any other services can be itemized on your bid so you can pick and choose what you wish to have done.
Q: When can I seal? A: The typical season for asphalt sealing in the Puget Sound area runs from late March through early October. High temperatures for the day are preferred to be above 60 degrees and it cannot rain.
Q: When can I patch? A: Typically year-round.
Q: When can I stripe? A: Throughout the seasonal spring and summer months and year-round if the air is sufficiently dry.
Q: How often should I seal? A: Depending on the amount of traffic and the weather conditions, it is a good idea to seal every 3-7 years.
Q: What can be done about cracks? A: Crack filling will be done in advance of the seal coating process. In general, only seam-line cracks exceeding one-quarter inch will be filled, but this will be specified in the bid proposal. The asphalt sealer can adequately fill tiny cracks. We use a product called Dura-fill Heat Stabilized Crack Filler, which is heated to roughly 400 degrees, at which temperature it can be poured into the exposed joint or crack. It will cool and harden inside the crack, preventing moisture penetration. Affected cracks will be cleaned appropriately prior to being filled with either manual or motorized brooms and/or compressed air. Extended cracking or "gator areas" should be repaired with asphalt hot mix, not rubberized crack filler.
Q: What type of prep work is required for asphalt sealing? A: To ensure the best coverage, the asphalt surface must be clean of dirt, oil spots, moss, and any other debris prior to sealing. Most surfaces can be cleaned with wire brooms and with a device called a Powerbroom, which is similar to a weedeater with circulating bristle heads. Once the necessary debris is dislodged from the asphalt surface it will be blown clean with the high-powered backpack blowers and/or Billy Goat parking lot cleaning equipment. A pressure washer will be used on rare occasion when moss is particularly heavy. Pressure washing must be done in advance of the seal coating process to allow time for the water to dry.
Q: Will you repaint my parking stall lines, handicap stencils, etc.? A: Yes. We can include striping in your bid. We also perform striping and parking lot design for new construction projects.
Q: How is the asphalt sealer applied? A: The perimeter and any hard-to-reach areas will be applied by hand using a broom and then smoother to achieve a desirable appearance. The remainder wil be applied with a combination of spray and/or squeegee application. Any imperfections in the "wet" appearance of the sealer, such as brush strokes will be scarecely noticeable once it has dried.
Q: What type of asphalt sealer do you use? A: We use ArmorSeal A-100, a commercial grade, high-solids asphalt-based sealer. It is manufactured by Armor Manufacturing in Tacoma, WA, which distributes the product to seal coating companies all over Washington, Idaho, Oregon, British Columbia and Alaska.
Q: How long does it take asphalt sealer to dry? A: Drying times can vary quite widely based on a few factors (in decreasing order of importance). 1) Air temperature 2) Direct sunlight 3) Wind. The sealer is a water-based product and, just like paint, will dry when all the water evaporates out. Sealer applied in direct sunlight on a 90-degree day can dry almost instantly. Sealer applied in the shade when temps are under 60 can take 48 hours or more to dry. Under most circumstances, if applied in the morning, sealer will take 2-4 hours to dry.
Q: How long will the asphalt sealer last? A: A typical, two-coat application will last roughly 3-7 years. Much depends on the customer preference regarding how fresh they want it to look. Factors that will affect how quickly the sealer wears are traffic volume, the elements and the original asphalt condition. Well-maintained asphalt that is sealed frequently will hold the seal longer because as it is applied, more sealer is able to remain on the surface of the asphalt, rather than being absorbed into the porous, "thirsty" asphalt.
Q: What's the difference between asphalt and concrete? A: Asphalt is composed of crushed rock, held together by oils and applied hot. Concrete is applied cold and a combination of cement, rocks (sometimes--aggregate) and water. Concrete is a harder substance and will not soften up with high temperatures. Asphalt will become more soft and pliable under high heat.
Q: Can I put asphalt sealer on my concrete? A: It is not recommended. Asphalt sealer is intended to absorb into the asphalt surface. Sealer applied to concrete will simply stick to the top and flake and peel off. Some people wish to have sealer applied to concrete that is adjacent to asphalt so it will have a consistent, black tone, but we don't recommend that. |
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