APE APE April 2020 | Page 26

EXPERT ADVICE -- Benjamin Franklin PREPARING TO SUCCEED Steps sealcoat contractors should take for a successful season By Jeff Winke www.callape.com W ith the construction and paving season fast approaching, the sealcoat contractor needs to be fully prepared with the right equipment and tools ready to go. “The key to a successful start of the year actually starts at the end of the previous year,” stated Adam Wellman, Maintenance Inc., Wooster, Ohio. “A maintenance program that includes proper storage of sealcoating equipment in the offseason will help avoid the main [26] failures we see as a parts and equipment dealer. Improper storage can lead to cost- ly repairs that could have been avoided such as pump rebuilds, pump changes, wand failures, and having to replace all hoses and lines.” From a contractor’s perspective, Mon- te Collins, sealcoat product manager, Crafco, Inc., Nashville, Tenn., had this to offer: “As a contractor in the busi- ness for many years, I had checklists for maintaining my equipment before the 1.800.210.5923