Types of Asphalt Sealers

Coal Tar Sealers

• Coal tar sealers are made of refined coal tar that contains a mixture of several chemicals. These chemicals are not affected by weather elements which is why asphalt surfaces have been sealed most often in the past using coal tar sealers. Coal tar is a by-product made during the preparation of coke, which is used as a heating agent in the steel making process. Coal tar provides a hard, shiny surface that protects the asphalt beneath from elements like rain, snow and road salt.

Asphalt Emulsion Sealers

• Asphalt emulsion sealers are asphalt based. They protect asphalt well and are considered to be better for the environment than coal tar sealers. They are prone to staining, however, because they don't resist petroleum-based products like gasoline and they do not cure at night due to the lowered temperatures. Asphalt-based sealers must be applied at temperatures of at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The air temperature must be at 50 degrees 24 hours before and after application which means that they are best applied between May and September.

Fast Dry Sealers

• Fast dry sealers are typically used in high traffic parking lots like gas stations and hospitals where traffic must come in and out at all hours and the parking lots can't be blocked off for a long period of time. Fast dry sealers contain geotextile fibers (fabrics used with soils, rocks and other products, like landscape fabric) that contain silica. These sealers dry in about an hour.

Acrylic Sealers

• Acrylic asphalt sealers contain no petroleum products, sand or gravel. They're also resistant to UV rays and other environmental elements and are extremely durable. Typically you'd find acrylic asphalt sealers on surfaces like tennis courts and shopping mall parking lots. Acrylic sealers are available in a variety of colors and don't require reapplication for up to five years.