FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

Here, we provide answers to customers' most frequently asked questions. If these don't solve what you're looking for, please don't hesitate to give us a call, email, or contact us through the contact form on this site.

General Sealcoating Questions

How often should I sealcoat my asphalt?

How much does it cost?

How long should my asphalt last?

How soon can I apply a sealcoat to freshly laid asphalt?

As soon as the asphalt is laid, a chemical reaction takes place, and it begins to oxidize. When some of the light oils leave the surface, it can be sealed. A simple test will tell when it is ready for sealing. Spread some water on the surface. If the water spreads evenly without beading and shows no “rainbows” from surface oils, you are ready. This is called a “water break test”. It usually takes a minimum of 30 days.

What type of sealcoat does Island Asphalt Maintenance Use?

FAQ Before Your Sealcoating Service

There are a few things you should know before we come to your home or business to complete our sealcoating project. Please review these carefully, as this will help you get the most out of your sealcoating and reduce the number of issues that may arise if not followed.

Cars/Other Objects

Sprinklers

Rain

If it is raining the day of scheduled service or a high probability of rain is in the forecast, assume we are not coming, and we will contact you to reschedule as soon as possible. We understand this can be especially frustrating, as you could potentially be rescheduled several times depending on the weather in your area. However, this is something we cannot change, so please stay patient with us, and we will do our absolute best to get you scheduled on a clear day. If it rains after our installation, please contact us. We monitor the weather closely and can generally predict this very well. If an unexpected storm happens, we will touch up any areas where the sealer has not bonded.

FAQ After Your Sealcoating Service

When can I drive on my sealed driveway?

Pavement Sealer

Sealer on grass

Existing Splashing/Overspray

Tire Marks

Tire Marks on the Surface of the Sealer

Tire marks on the surface of the sealer are both normal and temporary. When the sealer is applied on a hot surface, the portion of the film touching the driveway or parking lot can dry immediately, then the hot sun beaming down on the surface of the film can flash dry as well, leaving water trapped in the middle. These conditions, combined with turning the wheels of your car when it is not moving or possibly maneuvering the car to get into the garage, can lead to tire marks.

Is my sealer faulty?

When will the sealer be cured or dry?

Why should we not apply more sealer?

Imagine golf balls placed throughout the entire surface of your driveway. These golf balls represent molecules. As the product fully cures, these “golf balls”, the molecules bond to form a solid film, and typically, the tire marks go away. If this happens, the worst thing we can do is apply more sealer in an attempt to cover the tire marks. It will aggravate the situation. Be patient, and if by chance the marks don’t go away, we will come back after the weather cools and perform any touch-up required.

Power Steering Marks on Newly Applied Sealer

Due to our climate in Hawaii, power steering marks are a common sight on newly laid sealers. These markings are mainly caused by tires turning in a tight area (such as in and out of a garage or pulling into a driveway) or twisting a tire with a vehicle not yet in motion. When temperatures (and therefore asphalt surfaces) are high, the sealer will flash fry both on the bottom of the film from the hot pavement and on the surface of the film due to the hot sun. This traps a layer of water that takes even longer to dry, thus causing the sealer to be soft for a longer period. High humidity levels also retard the curing process. Fortunately, once the sealer fully cures and reaches its full hardness, 90% of these markings fade from sight.