Frequently asked questions

New asphalt needs 6-12 months to cure before the first sealcoat. After that, reseal every 2-3 years for residential driveways and every 1-2 years for high-traffic commercial lots in Roane and Cumberland Counties. Sealcoating extends pavement life by blocking UV rays and water intrusion, which are the main causes of asphalt deterioration. If you skip sealcoating, expect your pavement to fail in 10-15 years instead of lasting 25-30.

The count is based on your lot size — one accessible space for every 25 total spaces, and at least one of every six accessible spaces has to be van-accessible with a wider layout. Van spaces need either an 11-foot stall with a 5-foot access aisle or an 8-foot stall with an 8-foot aisle, plus the wheelchair symbol and a mounted sign. Small lots under 25 spaces still need one van-accessible space. We measure, lay out, and stripe to the current federal standards, and we re-check the counts every time we restripe.

Sealer needs 24-48 hours to cure depending on temperature and humidity. If you drive on it too soon, tires will track the sealer or leave marks. We need at least 24 hours of dry weather after application — if it rains before the sealer cures, it washes off and we have to redo it. That's why we watch the forecast closely and won't start a job if rain is coming within 48 hours.

Potholes start as cracks that let water into the base material under the asphalt. The water saturates the base, and when it freezes it expands and heaves the pavement. Traffic breaks up the weakened asphalt and a pothole forms. The best prevention is crack sealing — seal cracks every spring before water gets in. If you already have potholes, we patch them and address any drainage issues that caused water to collect there.

The working window in East Tennessee runs roughly April through October. Sealer needs the temperature above 50°F and rising, with dry weather behind and ahead of it — mid-50s to 80s is the sweet spot. If you can pick your timing, early fall is smart: the surface goes into winter sealed, and winter is when pavement across Roane and Cumberland Counties takes its worst beating. We freeze and thaw over and over from December through February, and every one of those cycles works water deeper into unsealed asphalt.

Anything from hairline up to about an inch wide gets routed clean and filled with hot-pour rubberized sealant — a seal that flexes with the pavement through the seasons. Wider than an inch, or areas with interconnected alligator cracking, is past what crack fill can hold; that section needs to be cut out and patched. The rule that matters: seal cracks before winter. Water that gets through a crack freezes in the base, and that's where potholes start.

Yes. Sealcoat won't bridge cracks wider than a quarter-inch. If you sealcoat over cracks, they'll still let water through and continue to widen. We crack-seal first, let the filler cure, then sealcoat. That way you're protecting the entire surface, not just the areas between cracks. It's part of the process for any sealcoating job we do across Roane and Cumberland Counties.

With proper maintenance — crack sealing, sealcoating, and timely repairs — asphalt can last 25-30 years. Without maintenance, expect 10-15 years before you're looking at major repairs or replacement. The difference is staying on top of small problems before they turn into big ones. Water intrusion and oxidation are what kill asphalt, and both are preventable with regular maintenance.

No. Sealer is water-based — rain hitting it before it cures washes it right off the pavement, and below about 50°F it won't cure properly and can peel. We need a dry surface, temperatures above 50 and rising, and a dry 24-hour forecast after application. That's why sealcoating season in East Tennessee runs April through October, and why we watch the radar before every job.