Get Helpful Answers to Common Questions About Sealcoating

Pagni’s Sealcoating provides driveway sealcoating, parking lot sealcoating and asphalt repair services in McHenry County, IL. Our family-owned company has over four generations worth of knowledge to share about the industry.

We’ve taken that knowledge and used it to answer the common questions customers ask about our services. You can find detailed answers to queries about each of our services below. We hope this information is helpful as you plan your next asphalt sealcoating or repair project. If you don’t see the information you need below, please give us a call to get all of your questions answered.

Interested in our services? Please call 815-477-1547 or request a quote here.

Worker applying sealcoating to a driveway

Sealcoating Questions

What is sealcoating?

Sealcoating is the practice of adding an extra layer of protection to asphalt pavement. The sealer used in sealcoating strengthens the asphalt cement that holds the rock and gravel together in the asphalt mixture. The asphalt takes much longer to degrade than it would otherwise as a result.

What does sealcoating do?

Sealcoating helps hold asphalt pavement together and protects it from the deteriorating effects of the elements. It keeps UV rays from drying out and fading the asphalt and stops water from infiltrating the cracks. It also helps driveways and parking lots stay flexible to avoid cracks and provides a strong defense against oil and gasoline spills.

Will sealer cover over and smooth out asphalt surfaces with cracks and depressions?

No. Sealcoating does not smooth out any imperfections in the driveway; it only applies an additional layer of seal over them. This seal hugs the contours of the driveway, so underlying flaws will still be visible.

Is sealcoating worth it?

Yes! Investing in sealcoating is more than worth it because it will prolong the lifespan of your driveway or parking lot. Paying for sealcoating every couple of years is much cheaper than having to completely replace your driveway or parking lot!

How soon can new pavement be sealed?

New asphalt needs to sit for at least 6-12 months before it can be safely sealed.

What is the best time of year for sealcoating?

We recommend sealcoating your driveway or parking lot from the early spring or to late fall with weather permitting. Temperatures should be between 50 and 80 degrees with low humidity to ensure the sealer successfully dries. Late summer or early fall are also good times for this type of weather.

Why do you use a commercial-grade sealer?

Our company only uses a commercial-grade, eco-friendly sealer because anything less can harm the structural integrity of a driveway. You run this risk when you use any of the oil-based sealers available in hardware stores. Commercial grade sealers provide the safest, best looking and most dependable results for our customers, so we refuse to use anything less.

Parking Lot Sealcoating Questions

How often should I have my parking lot sealed?

Parking lots generally need to be sealed more often than driveways because of the greater wear and tear they experience. Therefore, we recommend sealing your parking lot every 1-2 years.

I would like the same striping layout after parking lot sealcoating. Is this possible?

Yes! We can replace your existing line striping layout exactly where it was before we sealed your parking lot.

Can I change to a different parking lot striping layout?

Yes! We can change your striping layout to whatever pattern you would like. However, the faint outline of the old layout may be somewhat visible underneath the sealcoating.

Parking Lot Sealcoating Questions

How often should I have my parking lot sealed?

Parking lots generally need to be sealed more often than driveways because of the greater wear and tear they experience. Therefore, we recommend sealing your parking lot every 1-2 years.

I would like the same striping layout after parking lot sealcoating. Is this possible?

Yes! We can replace your existing line striping layout exactly where it was before we sealed your parking lot.

Can I change to a different parking lot striping layout?

Yes! We can change your striping layout to whatever pattern you would like. However, the faint outline of the old layout may be somewhat visible underneath the sealcoating.

Asphalt Repair Questions

What types of asphalt repair do you provide?

We provide hot tar crack filling, pothole filling, hot asphalt patching, asphalt replacement and other related services. You can learn more about these services on our asphalt repair page.

What is hot pour crack filler?

Hot pour crack filler is a commercial-grade rubberized liquid. When poured into asphalt cracks, this liquid expands and solidifies to keep moisture from penetrating and damaging the asphalt.

How long does a hot pour crack filler last?

A hot pour crack filler is not a permanent fix for asphalt cracks. Rather, it is a quick and affordable way to keep cracks from worsening and causing more expensive problems. Typically, the crack filler will last 1-5 years and then will need to be reapplied because cracks will naturally expand and reopen over time.

Can you seal over the crack filler?

Yes! All cracks must be filled before sealcoating because sealer on its own cannot keep cracks from expanding. The cracks will continue to expand underneath the sealer if we don’t fill them. Therefore, we always fill the cracks first. The crack filler takes 5-10 minutes to dry, and then we apply the commercial-grade sealer.

Have More Questions? We Have Answers!

At Pagni’s Sealcoating, we’re passionate about doing right by our customers. This includes providing all the information you need about our services to make the right decision.

Please call 815-477-1547 to talk to a helpful team member or request a quote.