Parking lots of schools, and colleges, carry the most traffic because of the hustle and bustle in their surroundings. Hence, it’s a must to keep them properly marked and in perfect condition for the safety of students, staff, and guests coming into the schools.
A parking lot with damaged asphalt or potholes poses a great risk to users. A student on a skateboard on an imperfect parking lot asphalt overlay is at a risk of fall and, subsequently, injuries.
However, when your properly marked asphalt sealcoating can stand the test of time and are properly marked, you’re rest assured that cars, trucks, and pedestrians are all safe from trip hazards.
What’s more? Gaddes Strategic LLC – the ideal provider of asphalt sealcoating for schools and college parking lots in Nashville, TN, will save you potential lawsuits. How so? Please read on.
What is Asphalt Sealcoating for Nashville schools and college parking lots?
Asphalt seal coating is the most durable and aesthetically-pleasing way to maintain and enhance the longevity of parking lots of schools and colleges.
The durability assured with asphalt sealcoating prevents frequent asphalt maintenance from oxidation damage due to ultraviolet rays from the sun and preserves the beauty and color of the asphalt.
What Are some things to know before Asphalt Sealcoating my School and College Parking Lot?
Although asphalt sealcoating is not a DIY kind of project, still, there are some critical things to note before embarking on sealcoating your school and college parking lot asphalt.
The important information ranges from what to know before commencing the project, what to expect during the project, and the best way to maintain your parking lot in pristine condition.
Among others, the following set of information is as important as your decision to use asphalt sealcoating for Nashville schools and colleges.
● Timing
Timing is the single most important factor to note before embarking on an exercise to use asphalt sealcoating for Nashville schools. There is a specific time frame between asphalt sealcoating maintenance of schools’ parking lot. Failure to follow through means one of two things – cracks and potholes may appear before the sealcoating. If this becomes the case, the parking lot would need more than just sealcoating, an asphalt repair.
The other could demonstrate a lack of fiscal responsibility as the duration of sealcoating maintenance is not exhausted before another sealcoating starts.
Per the effect on the asphalt, sealcoating should be carried out once every 3 years to prevent damages to the asphalt.
● Weather
The best weather condition for asphalt sealcoating is spring weather with at least 50°F, and rising temperatures, dry with no rainfall predicted in 24hours.
Winter weather is not ideal for asphalt sealcoating for some reasons, including; risk of winter machinery like snowplows damaging the seal, freezing weather conditions may result in iced water in the seal, damaging its integrity, and longer drying time.
However, asphalt sealcoating procedures done at the tail end of the winter/early spring also turn out well.
● Budget
Just like anything else that requires cutting a check, adequate budgeting from schools is required for a smooth procedure.
As stated earlier, asphalt sealcoating for Nashville schools and college parking lots needs to be redone every 3 years.
As a result, school administration needs to ensure adequate budgeting once a redo is near.
What are the benefits of asphalt sealcoating for Nashville Schools and colleges?
The benefits of seal coating go beyond smooth, glistening parking lots’ surfaces. In addition to aesthetics, it also adds economic, safety, and ease of usage to the parking lots of schools and colleges.
Below you’ll find some of the benefits of asphalt sealcoating for Nashville schools and college parking lots.
- Asphalt is a petrochemical, coming from the same family as oils and fuel. The leakage of oils and fuel breaks the bond of the asphalt in a solvent-like manner, making it weak. Asphalt sealcoating prevents the occurrence of this avoidable damage to the asphalt.
- Prevents damages to the asphalt in the form of potholes: asphalt sealcoating protects the integrity of the asphalt against structural damages like potholes.
- Sealcoating protects asphalt from oxidation damages from UV rays of the sun.
- Accelerated snow melting process and further prevention of water intrusion into the asphalt
- Sealcoating makes cleaning and maintaining schools’ parking lot “an actual walk in the park.”
- Routine maintenance with asphalt sealcoating prevents damages to the asphalt and ultimately prolongs its life and saves money.
What are some risks of overlooking Nashville Schools and College parking lots?
Parking lots of schools and colleges often get overlooked compared to other parts of the schools. Many fail to realize that the parking lot is as important as any other external structure and poses just as many dangerous risks.
Lack of maintaining parking lots of schools would eventually result in cracks, potholes, crevices, and faded markings. All of which are recipes for accidents and damages to buses, cars, and bikes.
That’s not all. There is also the risk of sanctions for violating the Tennessee M.U.T.C.D requirements, which could lead to an even greater risk of lawsuits should an accident occur in the parking lot.
How often should we Sealcoat our Nashville Schools and College Parking Lots?
Several factors contribute to the frequency of sealcoating parking lots of Nashville schools and colleges. Factors like; quality of asphalt sealer, the application process, the number of coats applied, the amount of daily traffic, and the geographic area all contribute to how long a sealcoating lasts.
Provided that all the factors are right, asphalt sealcoating for schools and college parking lots should be done every 3 years. The easiest way to guarantee that all the above factors are the proper type, in the proper condition, and with the proper application is to employ the services of experienced professionals in the field.
Contact Gaddes Strategic LLC for asphalt sealcoating services in Nashville, TN.
What is the Asphalt Sealcoating Process?
In asphalt sealcoating, a liquid bond coat and a liquid topcoat are applied as sealants to the asphalt. The result of this is durable asphalt. The process of asphalt sealcoating for schools’ parking lots involves using heat-reflective coats and asphalt sealers to protect the exposed asphalt surface from cracking and prevent the percolation of water under the asphalt.
Recall that Asphalt sealcoating isn’t a DIY project. To Sealcoat an asphalt parking lot, Gaddes Strategic LLC, here is a step-by-step process we recommend.
- Removal of all debris on the asphalt
- The asphalt is checked for structural damages such as potholes, cracks, crevices, etc.
- The damaged portions are repaired, and primer is applied to spots damaged by oil and chemicals.
- After putting the asphalt in good condition for sealcoating, two coats of commercial-grade sealers are applied to the asphalt using a sprayer, a squeegee, or a broom. The newly sealed surface is left unused for at least 12 hours to dry.
How Much Does it Cost to Sealcoat a School or College Parking Lot?
Depending on the type of asphalt coating you choose and other variables, asphalt sealcoating costs about $0.14 – $0 .25 per square foot.
What are Four Other Types of Asphalt Maintenance to Consider for Nashville Metro Schools and College Parking Lots?
Asphalt sealcoating is not the only type of maintenance done to asphalt parking lots. While they are used in different situations and serve different purposes, they share some common end goals: to prolong the life of asphalt, improve aesthetics, and prevent accidents due to damages.
Four other types of asphalt maintenance:
- Patching: this is a quick, necessary fix to a damaged portion of an asphalt parking lot of schools and colleges. It involves extracting the full depth of the pavement, restoring structural support, and patching with asphalt. Although a quick fix, patching lasts a long time.
- Sealcoating: Through sealcoating, asphalt pavements look better, last longer, and cost less to maintain by reducing oxidation and water penetration. For a lasting effect, according to the type of sealcoat, they should be applied approximately every 3-7 years. The best way to ensure the best sealcoat suitable for your asphalt and to know when due for a redo is to contact asphalt sealcoating service from Gaddes Strategic LLC.
- Overlaying: this is the process of adding a layer to an already existing asphalt, usually 1.5 – 2.5 inches thick. Damaged portions of the parking lot should be fixed before overlaying. Failure to do this already compromises the integrity of the overlay. In this step–by–step guide, you’ll find the detailed processes our asphalt overlay services at Gaddes Strategic LLC follow to ensure you a perfect asphalt overlay procedure.
- Pavement Markings: The Tennessee M.U.T.C.D requires schools and colleges to have pavement markings to address many capabilities. Some capabilities include but are not limited to,
- Handicap (ADA) Symbols
• Crosswalks
• Bike lanes
• School zones
• Directional arrows
• Individual line striping
• Loading zones
• Stop bars
• No Parking
• Fire lanes
• Visitor stalls
• Do Not Block areas
• Reserved spaces
Asphalt sealcoating for schools and colleges in Nashville, TN
Start talking to us at Gaddes Strategic LLC to put your schools’ and colleges’ parking lots in perfect condition.
Contact us today at (615) 866-2795 for all your asphalt paving, repair, and maintenance needs.
Service Areas
Gaddes Strategic, LLC Services to cities and local communities in Davidson County, TN, as well as other surrounding areas upon request:
Nashville TN, Antioch TN, Bellevue TN, Belle Meade TN, Davidson County TN, Goodlettsville TN, Whites Creek TN, Joelton TN, Old Hickory TN, Madison TN, Hermitage TN, East Nashville, Donelson TN, Green Hills many more!