There are a number of valuable benefits to consider.
Protect Your Investment – Proper parking lot, driveway and road preservation with Asphalt Armor can help extend the life of your asphalt pavement, depending on traffic load, for up to 15-20 years. Thus, Asphalt Armor can bring the consumer outstanding ROI when addressing your pavement maintenance needs.
Aesthetic Appeal – Your asphalt pavements are the first impression to your home or business. Our forever black technology provides a beautiful long-lasting finish – it does not fade to grey.
Durability – Our non-petroleum formula does not oxidize due to environmental exposure, thereby making it the longest lasting asphalt coating available. In addition, Asphalt Armor chemically adheres to your existing pavement and cures to a solid state. As it does not oxidize and flake off, it has to be physically worn off via traffic.
Sustainability – Our non-petroleum-based formula is environmentally friendly, sustainable and non-toxic. Further, the coating does not emit any noxious fumes during or after application.
2. Why does asphalt fail?
Asphalt concrete can fail due to a variety of reasons. The primary reason for asphalt failure is due to oxidation, or aging, of the asphalt pavement.
Some of the more common issues are:
Poor construction design and techniques
Inadequate materials
Environmental factors
These issues can and will lead to structural failures as listed below:
Cracking : Cracking can occur due to temperature fluctuations, excessive loading, or aging of the material.
Rutting : Rutting is caused by concentrated wear, such as studded tire wear, or repeated heavy loads that may deform the surface.
Potholes: Potholes form when small aggregates break off the edge of an existing crack, over time widening the crack and enabling the individual “chunks” of the asphalt matrix to break away from the surface. Proper maintenance and timely repairs are essential to extend the lifespan of asphalt concrete surfaces.
3. Why does Asphalt Crack?
Common causes of asphalt cracking:
Thermal stress: Temperature changes can cause asphalt to expand and contract, leading to thermal cracks.
Structural issues: these deficiencies arise when the underlying layers are not sufficiently strong or compacted, causing the surface to crack under traffic loads.
Environmental factors: Simply put, environmental exposure causes the asphalt oil to oxidize, thus it becomes stiffer and more brittle. This, in turn, causes the asphalt binder to lose the lighter residual molecules and changes the structure and composition of the asphalt molecules. Subsequently, these changes make asphalt pavements brittle and susceptible to cracking.
Overloading: If the asphalt is originally designed for passenger car traffic, and the use of the parking lot changes to require loaded trucks. This may cause the pavement to fail and crack prematurely.
Poor design/poor construction practices: Many things can contribute to the asphalt not being properly compacted during construction. If the asphalt is placed over an inadequate base, or the contractor does not exert enough compactive force into the asphalt during construction, then it will not be properly compacted. This causes the asphalt to be more permeable and oxidize faster than originally designed. Thereby, causing it to ravel, crack and fail prematurely.
4. Are cracks in asphalt bad?
Yes, cracks in asphalt are generally considered bad as they can compromise the integrity of the pavement if not properly treated. If left untreated, cracks can ravel, or expand, along the edges, and cause more extensive deterioration. Such damage may include potholes and base layer erosion, ultimately reducing the overall smoothness of the asphalt and the lifespan of the pavement. Regular maintenance and timely repairs are crucial to prevent small cracks from developing into larger, more costly problems. It is important to fill the crack to reinforce the edges and prevent the small aggregates from raveling and expanding the width of the crack.
5. What is Asphalt Armor™?
Asphalt Armor™ is a patent pending, non-petroleum based, protective coating applied to asphalt and concrete surfaces to extend their lifespan and enhance their resistance to environmental damage. It is designed to protect against water penetration, UV rays, and chemical spills, reducing the likelihood of cracking, fading, and erosion. This sealant helps seal the cracks and surface to help slow the oxidation rate and maintain the structural integrity and appearance of asphalt pavements. Therefore, this is a critical maintenance tool for prolonging the life of driveways, parking lots, and roads.
6. Is Asphalt Armor™ different than seal coat?
Asphalt Armor™ and seal coat both serve to protect asphalt surfaces, but they differ in chemical composition and application. Again, Asphalt Armor™ is a non-petroleum based, polymeric mix design, is a more robust, thicker coating that extends the life of asphalt pavements and provides enhanced protection against heavy traffic, water, and UV damage. Seal coat, on the other hand, is a thinner petroleum based layer primarily used to protect against surface wear and minor water damage. Seal coats are more commonly applied for aesthetic purposes and general maintenance, offering a fresh appearance and protecting against oxidation.
7. Will you just seal my cracks?
Yes, we will just seal cracks. But, we advise that a coat of ArmorCoat is far more important to protect the entire surface from oxidation and extend the life of your asphalt. Remember your entire asphalt surface is permeable, with air and water constantly flowing through it.
8. How do I make my asphalt last longer?
To extend the life of your asphalt, it's important to follow a regular maintenance routine. Start by Armor coating the surface approximately every 5-7 years to protect against water, UV rays, and oxidation. Repair any cracks or potholes as soon as they appear to prevent them from worsening. Keep the surface clean by removing debris and oil spills, which can degrade the asphalt. Additionally, ensure proper drainage to avoid water pooling on the surface, and avoid overloading the pavement to prevent structural damage.
9. My asphalt is in pretty bad shape, is removing and replacing it the only option?
No, Asphalt Armor™ has a variety of products to address various asphalt surface aging and structural concerns. From our single-coat ArmorCoat to our 2, or 3 coat Asphalt Armor™ Rescue™ product, which is specifically designed for highly aged, alligator cracked pavements, we provide cost effective solutions to keep your pavement intact. Our Rescue™ product essentially glues the asphalt back together, extending the life of the pavement another 5-7 years.
10. Can you coat concrete parking lots?
Asphalt Armor™ ArmorCon is a three-step process designed to rejuvenate and restore old concrete pavements. We clean the surface, fill the cracks then apply the ArmorCon two-step concrete coating to give a fresh, new look to your concrete pavement.
11. Are there different types of Asphalt Armor™ coatings?
Yes, there are four primary types of coating in the Asphalt Armor™ family of products.
Asphalt Armor™ ArmorCoat is our single coat flagship product, designed to protect your asphalt from damage due to traffic, chemicals and the environment.
Asphalt Armor™ Rescue helps repair the asphalt surface with our proprietary blend of materials and 2 step application process. Rescue is specifically designed for asphalt surfaces that are severely oxidized and degraded with extensive alligator cracking and/or raveling and spalling of aggregates present.
Asphalt Armor™ Xtreme, our proprietary two coat process, is simply the most durable asphalt coating process available today. An Xtreme coating installation is a modest expense relative to the standard one coat application, however the return on investment in terms of durability and aesthetic value is unmatched.
Asphalt Armor™ ArmorCon is a proprietary four step surface prep and coating process to restore form, function and durability with a long lasting, aesthetically pleasing finish. Asphalt Armor™ is the only asphalt coating company with the capability to recondition, revitalize and protect your old, weathered concrete outdoor surfaces.
12. What type of traction can I expect with your coating?
Asphalt Armor™ coating provides more traction than most current asphalt pavements.
13. Is it slick in the rain?
The very first time your coating gets wet it may be slightly slick as an antibiotic product, mixed within our formula, dissipates and washes away from the surface. After that it will have more grip than your current asphalt pavement.
14. How much does your product cost vs. sealcoat?
Although Seal coat can be 10%-20% less expensive than Asphalt Armor™, our proprietary crack fill formula is more cost effective than standard rubberized oil that is primarily used in the industry. So, there are a lot of instances where a complete crack fill and coat is similar in price to conventional seal coat.
15. Will your product adhere to older sealcoats?
Asphalt Armor™ is designed to chemically adhere to the liquid asphalt in the asphalt concrete pavement matrix. Since conventional seal coat is primarily liquid asphalt it does stick very well to seal coat.
16. Do you do any asphalt patching?
We do minor asphalt patching and pothole repairs.
17. What is your product warranty?
Asphalt Armor™ offers a conventional 1 year warranty against failure.
18. Can I just buy your product and install myself?
Asphalt Armor™ line of products is currently only available from Asphalt Armor™ and recommended to only be applied by licensed installers.
19. What is your working territory?
Asphalt Armor™ is currently available in Oregon, Washington, California and Nevada. That being said, we can make it available anywhere in the United States for large projects.
20. Where can I buy your product?
Asphalt Armor™ Coating products are only available from Asphalt Armor™, LLC and can only be applied by licensed applicators. For more information on how to become a licensed applicator call us at 541-708-7588.
21. Is black the only color for ArmorCon?
No. Asphalt Armor™ can be custom blended into a wide variety of colors. The standard colors currently offered are Black and “Granite Gray”, a light gray color that is meant to be placed in hot climates to counteract the Urban Heat Island effect.
22. What is asphalt concrete?
Asphalt concrete, commonly referred to as asphalt, is a composite material used for constructing roads, driveways, parking lots, bike paths and airports. It consists of mineral aggregate bound together with asphalt oil, a sticky, black, and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. The aggregates are usually sand, gravel, or crushed rock, and the asphalt serves as the binder that holds the aggregates together. The mixture is heated and laid down in layers and compacted. When it cools, it creates a durable and smooth surface.
