There’s nothing like the clean look of a freshly paved parking lot. However, maintaining that pristine surface and protecting it from harsh Minnesota winters requires special care. While sealcoating is the undisputed standard for preserving asphalt, the industry is filled with persistent myths about what it actually does, when it should be applied, and who should apply it.
At Bituminous Roadways, Inc, we’ve spent more than 80 years engineering and maintaining superior asphalt solutions across the Twin Cities. We know that separating fact from fiction is the first step to maximizing your property’s lifecycle. Below, our pavement preservation experts debunk the five most common sealcoating myths so you can make informed, cost-effective decisions for your property.
Myth: Sealcoating is Just for Aesthetics
Fact: Sealcoating acts as a vital protective barrier that prevents structural asphalt failure
While fresh sealcoating can improve your property’s curb appeal, its primary job is to provide protection. Sealcoating locks out water, motor oil, gasoline, and harsh UV rays. Without it, these elements quickly penetrate the porous asphalt, causing it to oxidize, turn brittle, and rapidly crumble into potholes.
Myth: Sealcoating Completely Repairs Cracks and Damage
Fact: Sealcoating is a preventative surface treatment, not a structural repair
Sealcoat is a thin liquid membrane meant to seal the top layer of pavement. It lacks the structural integrity to bridge cracks or level out potholes. Existing cracks must be repaired and potholes patched before the sealcoat layer can be applied.
Myth: Sealcoating Can Be Done Anytime, Regardless of Weather
Fact: Sealcoating needs a highly specific temperature and dry weather conditions to cure properly
Sealcoat is a water-based emulsion that relies on evaporation to harden. For a successful application, the ambient and pavement temperatures must consistently stay above 50 degrees F (and rising) for at least 24 to 48 hours. Applying it in temperatures that are too cold, during high humidity, or right before a rainstorm will cause the product to wash away or fail to bond to the pavement.
Myth: Sealcoating Is a One-Time Solution
Fact: Sealcoating is an ongoing, cyclical maintenance practice
No sealcoat layer lasts forever under continuous tire friction, snowplow scraping, and weather extremes. To maximize the lifespan of a commercial parking lot or residential driveway, sealcoating should be reapplied every 2 to 3 years.
Myth: DIY Sealcoating Is as Effective as Professional Application
Fact: Commercial-grade equipment and specialized material mixes outperform DIY retail alternatives
The thin buckets of sealcoat sold at local hardware stores are often heavily diluted or lack the necessary rubberized polymers required for long-term durability. Professional contractors use specialized spray rigs or dee-bed squeegees to achieve a uniform, commercial-grade thickness. In addition, pros have access to high-powered air brooms and wire wheels to remove hidden dirt, which is the number one step to prevent the sealer from peeling off later.
Professionally Sealcoat Your Asphalt Surface with Bituminous Roadways
For over 80 years, Bituminous Roadways has provided superior asphalt pavement solutions in the Twin Cities area. We are proud to be part of several improvement projects throughout Minnesota, including the TCO Performance Center parking lot and the Woodbury resurfacing project. With professional sealcoating, your asphalt surface will gleam.
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