Asphalt Maintenance Glossary of Terms

There is a whirl-wind of terms out there globally when referencing the numerous types of products available for asphalt maintenance. Hopefully the list below will help you differentiate between the products available to property managers and owners today.

Asphalt Sealer also known as sealcoating: Product that is mixed with silica sand and applied by squeegee or spray to the surface of the asphalt. Sealcoating products protect and beautify asphalt pavements. Widely used on parking lots, car parks and driveways.

Crack Sealant: Commonly referred to for rubberized material used on cracks of length. The rubberized material is flexible and exhibits elastic characteristics for use on working cracks. Ideal for transverse cracks such as those seen on roads and highways. A crack sealant is used to keep a crack sealed that sees more expansion and contraction.

Crack Filler: Material used on cracks that are more random and are less susceptible to movement. Crack fillers are not rubberized and most often used on cracks seen on parking lots. A crack filler’s purpose is to fill and keep out moisture.

Asphalt Sealing Additives: Additives are added to the sealer mix at the job site for numerous reasons. Some additives reduce power steering marks. Other available products enhance a sealcoating product’s resistance to oil, fuels and grease. You can also find additives to improve resistance to water.

Pothole Patch: Pothole patch is typically a cold-asphalt mix used to repair areas of pavement that have defined sides and are about ½ inch to a couple inches deep. PatchMaster can be applied in any weather and is ideal for full depth repair.

Asphalt Binder: Binder is actually a tack coat used for priming surfaces that are oxidized. Asphalt binder is applied just prior to patch work. Polymer Modified Binders can also be used as asphalt recycling agents, and as a rejuvenator or also known as fog sealing.

Oil Spot Primers: Products applied to oil and grease spots on parking lots and car parks to help prevent oil from bleeding through freshly applied seal coat.

Squeegee Machine or Sealer Buggy: Ride on application machine with agitation that applies sealcoating materials with rubber squeegees behind the unit. The rubber squeegees help push the seal coat into the voids of the asphalt.

Spray Tanks: Agitated machines that can be built as trailers or skid units used to spray asphalt sealers. Spraying seal coat provides a protective sealer that adheres to the top of the rock of the asphalt surface.

Heated Asphalt Distributor: Machines used to heat and spray emulsions, asphalt rejuvenators, tack coat and more. Available as trailers or skid mounted units.

Heated Hose Machine: Often referred to for trailers used to heat and apply asphalt crack sealants and crack fillers. Heated Hose is in reference to the hose which is heated to enhance application of crack sealants.