How do you get water into a full 55 gallon drum to mix?
Mix the drum of sealer thoroughly as-is. Then take a 5 gallon pail and scoop out two buckets worth of sealer and store it in 5 gallon pails or another empty drum or tank. Then add in two pails of water into the drum. Make sure you do this in a gravel parking lot or area where you don’t have to worry about spillage. Also be sure to have a 5 gallon pail of water and some sponges or rags handy for any cleanup.
How many square feet does the sealer cover?
We carry commercial-grade DOT spec sealer with a coverage rate of 100 square feet per gallon.
5,500 square feet per 55 gallon drum.
22,000 square ft per pallet of sealer and
27,500 square feet of coverage per 275 gallon tote
Can I spray sand with the 130 or 230 Gallon Spray Systems?
Our spray systems work only with Asphalt Emulsion Sealer.
If you use:
a sealer with sand,
or oil based sealer,
the spray system will not work: the pump will need repair and you may even blow the engine.
If you use the wrong sealer your warranty is voided in the same way as if you were using diesel fuel in a gasoline engine for your truck.
When is it too warm or too cold to apply sealer?
Temperatures must be 55 degrees or warmer for 3 hours after application for it to dry properly. Cure times will be longer in cooler conditions. The hotter it is, the faster the water evaporates from the sealer and the dry time can be as fast as 30 minutes. Try not to apply if hotter than 105°F.
How long does sealer need to dry before it rains?
Ideally sealer should dry for a couple of hours before it rains. It may need more time if it's very cloudy and humid.
How long does it need to dry before I do a second coat?
There is no need for two coats, but if you're doing two coats, do them a week apart so the sealer has time to cure completely.
Is DSF a quick dry additive?
No. DSF is the “Quick Drive” all in one additive. DSF accelerates cure time chemically. All other additives still require the suns passive curing process to dry and eventually cure sealcoating.
Does DSF contain any hardeners?
No. DSF does not contain any acrylic or brittle polyvinyl resins like some products. DSF rubberizes the seal coat as it cures where hardening additives cause the seal coat to become brittle which causes premature cracking or flaking.
We do not recommend using any other additives when using DSF. DSF is an all in one additive offering all the features and more of other additives combined. Your money would be wasted to use two products for the same result.
Should I dilute my sealer?
Your sealer comes Ready to Use so you do not really need to dilute unless needed to. If needed - like during the hot days of summer, you can dilute up to 5-10%.
If your spray system is designed to work with sand (AK's Drum, Tote, Portable, 130 and 230 gallon systems do NOT work with sand) then you can also add:
Sand: 300-500lbs
In cold weather increase the amount of FSA to 7-10 gallons.
How to mix the sealer in the 275-gallon tote?
The best way to do this is with a drum mixer that you attach to a drill. It's faster and more thorough than using a broomstick or other long-handled implement. We have one available here: Drum Mixer.
I'm getting foam on top of my sealer.
The cause of this is over-agitating the sealer. Only recirculate your sealer for 2-3 minutes max at the beginning of the day and maybe for a minute at the beginning of each job.
A sealant was sprayed on the pavement and it is sticking together, however, under the surface, it is loose. Will Coal Tar Sealer help "glue" this back together?
No, unfortunately - asphalt sealer is not a glue or binder. It's a sealant that is a protective layer to limit damage from elements, traffic and general wear. You need to add a binder directly to the recycled asphalt when they are doing the work.
What would the reason be that you would cut it 20% vs 30%? I'm looking at purchasing some 55 gallon drums of coal tar, but curious on this. I have never bought concentrate.
The reason to dilute it are to get more coverage rate for your dollar. If you're looking for the best outcome for your job and you are trying to meet a DOT Spec, use it as shipped (already diluted 20%). However, if the asphalt is in pretty good shape, you can put an additional 20% of water (11 gallons per 55-gallon drum) in it to get more coverage. You would still maintain a commercial standard up to that level. We don't recommend any dilution past that amount.
If I use coal tar sealer with gem seal rapid set, would there be any issues when cleaning up pump and line?
You can put the rapid set into the material, but the material needs to be used completely within 48 hours. After you have finished using it, do a fresh water flush as usual.
Can this be used to clean pine sap from asphalt shingles? Can this be down-streamed through a pressure washer? It appears to be roughly the weight of water.
Yes the Universal Asphalt Degreaser Cleaner can be used to remove pine sap on asphalt shingles using a power washer. To use, dilute 1 part degreaser cleaner with 3 parts water.
After applying crackfill, how soon can you seal coat?
Whether you used liquid cold-pour crack filler or rubberized hot-pour crack filler, it is best to let the product dry completely before applying sealer. Depending on ambient and surface temperatures, the actual drying time of the crack fill can vary. We usually recommend allowing crack fill to dry for 24 to 48 hours before applying sealer.
What is the difference between water-based sealer and asphalt emulsion sealer?
Coal tar sealers and asphalt emulsion sealers are both water-based sealers. That means you need to mix water into both products before you can apply them.
But there are also oil-based sealers. Water-based sealers dry and cure faster than oil-based ones, and they produce less VOCs. Oil-based sealers, on the other hand, produce a slick finish, which can be slippery when it rains.
Can the seal be painted over? If so how long after placement?
Yes, Sealcoat can be painted (just think about the painted parking stalls in a parking lot!!). The paint should be a high-quality latex (water-based) paint. Less expensive paints may exhibit bleed through or discoloration of the paint. Any colors can be utilized. It is best to wait a few days after the Sealcoat is applied before painting.
Can I still use a frozen asphalt sealer?
No, you will not be able to use asphalt sealer once it’s frozen. When asphalt sealers are exposed to freezing temperatures, they lose the ability to bond properly to the surface of the pavement. Properly dispose of any sealer that has frozen over winter.
