EXPERT ADVICE
jority of sealcoating contractors using additives , it is no longer an option to exclude the use of additives if you are looking to stay competitive within your market area .
“ Additionally , the use of additives becomes imperative while sealcoating in less-than-ideal conditions . Those conditions include challenging weather which can be found in early spring , late fall , or night time when you want to ensure optimum drying and cure .”
For the contractor , there is power in additives ... the power of providing greater options that are not afforded otherwise .
“ Additives allow contractors to stay more competitive by giving them the power to create flexible solutions , a more controlled job , a higher quality coating , and a better customer experience ,” stated Rick Poole , president of Diamond Shield Fortifier LLC , Alexander , Ark . “ A contractor can tailor the job for a customer , such as a quicker dry / cure time , a blacker appearance , and increased bonding and resistance all while having more control over the environmental conditions the coating will be placed in . This in turn reduces liability , damage to the coating integrity , and appearance .”
Poole continued : “ Many jobs require additives to ensure a successful outcome . For example , night work , projects with super-tight schedules and early or late season work--all of which may not allow for the 24- to 48-hours of cure time .
“ Saying ‘ Time is Money ’ about additive use is cliché , but without an additive to accommodate for the initial cure time of a coating , you must stop and wait to come back another day to finish . Additives greatly reduce this waste of time and resources with fewer trips back to finish jobs . In return more work is completed with the same hours each month , which means more profitability , and less wear and tear on equipment .”
Clearly , additives in sealcoating is designed to help shorten cure time .
“ There are several key advantages when additives are included in sealcoats ,” stated Woodrow Adams , operations manager at STAR Seal . “ These are performance improvements with greater resistance to chemicals , deicing salts , oil , jet fuel , etc . and greater resistance to water and weather elements--as well as improved abrasion resistance . There is , of course , reduced drying time by 25- to 30-percent and uniform drying in less-than-ideal conditions and uniform dry color under shade or direct sunlight . Also , sealcoat additives keep sand / aggregate uniformly suspended in the mix , thus eliminating settling in the bottom of the tank . They help distribute sand / aggregate evenly throughout the sealcoating and produce a uniform textured and streak-free appearance of the finished job .”
Adams added that sealcoat additives provide a number of benefits compared to sealing without :
• Extends sealer durability and longevity
• Improves flexibility to help prevent
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