How to Find A Sealcoating Contractor
By Nick Deal

Finding a sealcoating contractor that will do a good job is very important these days. There are so many people in this service business these days it is best for you to learn everything you can about sealcoating to find the most qualified. Your asphalt is a very significant investment when it comes to your residential property or business, you want the best, for the best price.

You need to know: 1. Make sure they are not fly-by-nighter contractors (Gypsies).

These contractors will offer you discount deals, claiming they are saving you a lot of money. Most of the time these guys are putting down nothing but black water. They will dilute the asphalt sealer considerable with water. There is also a safety factor when dealing with these individuals. There have been cases where these guys have charged older people $1000.00, when the job would usually only cost $150.00. Ask for business card, website, office number, or a reference.

2. Know what type asphalt sealer your contractor will be using for your asphalt.

There are basically two types of asphalt sealer used today, one is water based sealer and another is coal-tar based. The coal-tar is longer lasting and able to protect the asphalt better against certain elements (rain, snow, ice, sun, antifreeze). Most water base sealers you can find in hardware stores such as Lowes and Home Depot. Coal tar sealers can be found from commercial sealer contractors, and your local hardware stores carry a few brands in 5 gallon buckets. You can seal coat your driveway yourself but don t expect to get the sand mixed in the sealer like contractors use. To do this you need a large tank to mix the sand and sealer together like sealcoating contractor s use. The sand gives the sealer a more textured surface keeping the asphalt from being so slippery when it s wet. It also allows the asphalt sealer to last longer.

3. Know what type of sealer applications your contractor is going to use.

These are two basic applications for applying asphalt sealer. The first is using a squeegee and applying the entire surface by hand. This is also how home owner s apply sealer their selves. The second application is having the sealer in a holding tank and pumped out of the tank through a hose and sprayed out of a nozzle tip onto the asphalt. This spray application is done twice for two strong even coats. Using the tank, an agitator is sometimes used to mix sand with the sealer.

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Only hairline cracks can be filled with asphalt sealer. You can have the larger cracks filled with crack filler. Alligator cracks need to be sawed and cut out, then replace and rolled with new asphalt. Do not let your sealcoating contractor apply sealer to any new asphalt that is under ninety days old. New asphalt needs time to cure before applying sealer.

5. What kind of Preparation work is involved in sealcoating.

The first thing your contractor will do is broom and blow off your entire asphalt surface. This will get any grass or dirt off the surface that will be keeping the sealer from sticking to the asphalt. Next if there are any oil spots that are not saturated into the asphalt more than 3/8, a primer will be added to the oil spot so the sealer will stick. Then all is left is to apply the asphalt sealer to the surface.

Nick Deal - is a owner of a asphalt company in the southeast.

Find a Sealcoating Contractor

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Deal
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Post California Wildfire Ash - What You Need to Know About Cleaning Up
By L. Winslow

After big fires like those in California in October of 2007, folks need to know what to do about the huge quantities of ash both outdoors and ash that has gotten indoors. Some ash is toxic, but most that comes from burnt brush is relatively harmless and is similar to the ask in a BBQ, fire place or campfire. All ash will contain some cancer-causing toxins.

Most ash does cause irritation to eyes and skin, if you are sensitive. For those with asthma it can trigger asthma attacks and therefore you if this is an issue you should avoid it. The Online Think Tank recommends to wash the off ash with water, hosing it down. Do not sweep it or use an air-blower. Shop vacuums are not very affective with removing ash, and although such a solution is tempting, it is ill-advised.

It is also recommended to wear a dust mouth-cover, full covering clothing and either sunglasses or goggles if you are going to get in close to blast it with a pressure washer or high PSI garden hose nozzle. If you are going to do sweeping plus hosing, do the sweeping very lightly to reduce putting too much dust in the air. Try to not hose the ask into storm drains, creeks or run-off areas, as it will go directly into the environment.

When hosing down, the purpose is not to flood it out, rather to prevent ash and dust particles. Use as little water as possible and then put the ash into plastic bags and throw it out. If the ash is from a structure, it can be very toxic and must more serious, so consult someone about this, older buildings may have asbestos or other building materials that are very toxic when burned. I hope this article helps you and good luck on your clean-up. Sincerely, Lance.

L. Winslow is an Economic, Political and Technology Advisor to the Online Think Tank, a Futurist and retired entrepreneur http://www.worldthinktank.net .

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Winslow is planning a bicycle ride from Canada to Mexico and in Spring across the US from San Diego to Virginia Beach to raise money for charity. Previously he was a track star athlete, private pilot, involved in politics, community volunteerism and a Franchising Founder. Mr. Winslow has choosen 100 titles of Books he wishes to write and has completed ten thus far. The subjects include Community Planning, Future Tech, Franchising, Small Business, and Third World Issues.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=L._Winslow
http://EzineArticles.com/?Post-California-Wildfire-Ash—What-You-Need-to-Know-About-Cleaning-Up&id=814877

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