What is the best temperature to Sealcoat Your Driveway
This is probably one of the most common questions we get asked all the time. People are always worried about if the temperature is perfect to get their driveway finally done. First I would like to address the fact that there is no one exact temperature – there’s a range that works well.
In this article we’re going to give you some solid numbers so you can know what to work with. However, before I go into that I’ll like to advice you some best practices depending on which contractor you hire to do the job. This comes down to the manufacturer recommendations about the type of ceiling your driveway contractor are using. Every sealant has some instructions in the back that can guide you and let you know what temperature it is best applied on. Those numbers are not for nothing, the manufacturer has to go through a testing process to make sure it first passes the standards and then they also let you know a sweet spot in the range of temperature that particular ceiling works best.
Having that said, the best temperature is right around 70°. Most people are afraid of not do their driveway when it is to cold, but you should also not do it when it’s too hot. When the temperature is below 50°, it is difficult for the pavement to dry quickly. We do not want the liquid sealant to take days before it sets in, not only will it not look solid once it’s done, but it also gives a chance for leaves and debris’ to fall on the drying driveway.
Explanation of why the temperature matters
All sealcoating is a mix of the sealant put together with cracked asphalt. That is all, when the combination of the two together melts into a liquid that dries up and give you that beautiful solid black look. As we know from science class, cold tends to separate things while warmth makes thinks melt and stick together. Set the temperature is too cold, the ceiling will not properly fuse with the asphalt and then it will also not settle in the usual rate it is supposed to. That is the period of time usually 24 to 48 hours we have to wait before the pavement can be walked on again after has been sealcoated. If it takes you 3 to 4 days for that to happen, other than the low quality results there’s also a good chance leaves and other dirt to fall on the drying payment.
Avoid seal coating when it is too hot
On the other side of the spectrum, if the temperature outside is over 92° you are entering the zone where it may be a bit too hot. This is a point where the pavement is literally reaching temperature of a frying pan. The sealant will start to evaporate way too rapidly for it to sink in and finish with a solid look. Summers in Texas gets really hot, it’s not surprising for the temperature to pass 95° even so if your head is spinning from the heat you might want to check the actual temperature before you call a driveway contractor!
