Asphalt Maintenance for Summer in the Twin Cities

When it comes to investing in asphalt maintenance in the Twin Cities metro area, the team at Gopher State Sealcoat is here to support you this season! Whether you’re interested in preventative care or damage control, we have the expertise and products to keep your commercial asphalt perfectly maintained and looking and fresh!

Here are just a few of the ways in which Gopher State Sealcoat can perform routine, high-quality, and efficient asphalt maintenance this summer season. We offer sealcoating, crack repair, and other services which include:

  • Asphalt Sealcoat: After installing a fresh surface, it’s very important to ensure that your asphalt investment is completely protected by having a quality sealcoating performed. Doing this will keep your asphalt safe from the sun, fluids, and once winter arrives, Minnesota’s constant freeze and thaw cycle!
  • Asphalt Routing and Sealing: Have you been noticing small cracks or chips in your asphalt driveways or parking lots? Our professional team can perform comprehensive asphalt maintenance, including routing and sealing, to help extend the overall life of your parking lot or other asphalt surface. 
  • Other Asphalt Projects: If you’re looking for other asphalt related services, we have a broad variety available. We can help with everything from sweeping to painting lines on your asphalt parking lots, walking paths, or other commercial surfaces. These are effective ways to increase both the lifespan and overall safety of your asphalt surface.

So, what are you waiting for? Summer is the perfect time to consider any of the professional, high-quality asphalt maintenance services available through Gopher State Sealcoat in the Twin Cities area. Our trained and experienced technicians are here to address your asphalt maintenance needs and support you throughout the process.

Whether you’re installing, protecting, or repairing asphalt surfaces this summer, Gopher State Sealcoat knows exactly how to help. Give us a call today!

3 Reasons It’s Time for Parking Lot Striping in the Twin Cities

As the weather warms up this season in the Twin Cities, now is the perfect time to start considering outdoor projects! If you have an asphalt parking lot, spring is a great season to think about investing in parking lot striping.

Have you ever considered adding striping to your parking lot or sprucing up the existing markings? Here are just a few reasons why you should start planning for stripes this season:

  1. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance Requirements: If you have a parking lot, then it’s important to also have clearly marked handicapped parking stalls in order to remain within ADA legal requirements. Our professional team understands the importance of creating and maintaining safe parking stalls for everyone and will work to help you follow compliance procedures.
  • Improper Spacing Maneuvers: Have you noticed cars improperly parked in your parking lot, or perhaps, taking up more space than is necessary? This situation can cause dangerous vehicle scenarios for drivers and pedestrians alike. Fortunately, parking lot striping is a great way to resolve these parking lot issues! Especially if there are many different folks sharing a parking lot, it’s important to ensure there are clear, safe spots available for everyone.
  • Dangerous Weather Conditions: Even though the winter months are over, spring  is a perfect time to begin preparing for what folks across Minnesota know is just around the corner—more winter weather! During the fall and winter seasons, snow and slush can create difficulties in keeping a parking lot safe, so get ahead of oncoming difficult weather by clearly marking parking stalls for your lot now!

So, what are you waiting for in the Twin Cities? Enlist the team at Gopher State Sealcoat to help out this season by providing professional parking lot striping. We’re here to answer your questions and provide guidance about anything asphalt-related this summer. Give us a call today!

Common Questions Answered for Winter Asphalt Maintenance

Although asphalt maintenance may not be at the top of your to-do list this holiday season in the Twin Cities, make sure to consider it as the temperature drops. Asphalt maintenance is important this time of year, especially as you start investing in deicing techniques for driveways, parking lots, and walkways.

Before picking up a bag of deicing salt or chemicals, take a moment to do your research. Here are answers to a few common questions about deicing:

  • Does rock salt work best for deicing asphalt?

Most folks reach for the rock salt immediately once the weather changes, but it’s important to know there are other options available. Support asphalt maintenance by purchasing smarter this season and moving away from the rock salt. This substance can cause pitting in your asphalt and is dangerous for animals in your neighborhood.

  • Which chemicals work best for deicing asphalt surfaces?

Professionals most often recommend using calcium magnesium acetate or propylene glycol to deice asphalt surfaces. They are less dangerous to the natural world and less likely to damage asphalt. When using any type of chemical, however, make sure to practice safety. Use gloves to distribute, or make sure to immediately wash your hands afterward!

  • Are kitty litter or sand viable options for deicing asphalt?

These are great alternatives for making surfaces less slippery and safer, but not for deicing! As part of your asphalt maintenance, kitty litter or sand work well as a non-toxic method for creating traction in parking lots or on driveways and walkways. However, these are not viable options for deicing your asphalt.

As part of your asphalt maintenance this holiday season, use deicing materials carefully in the Twin Cities. Do your research, and make sure you’re not purchasing dangerous materials that can cause damage to your asphalt or neighborhood.

Do you have additional questions about asphalt maintenance? Contact the team at Gopher State Sealcoat today!

Seeking Asphalt Repair before Winter Arrives

Although the temperature is dropping and weather is changing in the Twin Cities, there’s still time for asphalt repair before winter arrives! Many folks think that because the seasons are changing there’s no time left for outdoor projects. Before winter officially arrives, though, there’s still plenty of work that can be done!

If you have damaged asphalt parking lots, here are just a few ways to work with Gopher State Sealcoat to make sure they’re ready for winter’s arrival:

Seal Asphalt Cracks: Start by looking at your parking lot and checking for any cracks. If you notice an opening that might worsen over the winter season, give our professional team a call as soon as possible. We’ll provide excellent asphalt repair services for your surface, and make sure there won’t be additional damage throughout the late fall and winter!

Repair Potholes: In addition to identifying cracks in your asphalt, take the time to address serious potholes as well. Even though potholes often seem too far gone to fully repair, our expert staff members can provide excellent asphalt repair services. We’ll make sure your potholes are prepped for the winter months!

Snow Preparation: Although asphalt cracks and potholes are a good starting point for asphalt repair during the month of November, there are other tasks that need to be addressed. Speak with our professional team about other services that we can provide, such as snow preparation. Our staff members know which tips and tricks work best for your specific surface, in addition to providing complete asphalt repairs for all types of projects.

Asphalt repairs are especially important during the month of November in the Twin Cities. Rather than allowing colder weather to damage your asphalt surfaces, intervene before autumn is over. Give the professionals at Gopher State Sealcoat a call at (952) 931-9188 today, and start the process of asphalt repair!

Maintain Asphalt this September in the Twin Cities

Although installing asphalt is typically a large financial undertaking in the Twin Cities area, maintaining it is the key to protecting this investment. Asphalt maintenance is just as important as the initial installation, if not more. Rather than allowing asphalt to incur damage over time, there are ways to take care of your parking lot after it’s installed!

Here are just a few ideas about how to maintain asphalt this September:

 

Sweeping Regularly: Although it may feel counter-intuitive to sweep outside of your building, this task removes excess dust and debris from asphalt surfaces and keeps it from cracking over time. A thorough sweep, even just one time each year, can do wonders to keep your asphalt maintained and looking fresh!

 Sealing Cracks Immediately: Have you recently noticed small cracks or chips in the surface of your asphalt? What about small imperfections or minor wear and tear? Then it’s time to get these fixed! The longer you wait to repair or seal these cracks and damage, the worse (and more expensive) your asphalt maintenance will become.

Applying Sealcoating When Needed: Once every three to five years, it’s important to invest in a high-quality sealcoating. Over time, and through the diverse weather in Minnesota, the initial layer of sealcoat may become worn, tired, and less effective. A brand-new sealcoat every couple of years, however, will keep your asphalt investment safe for a long time!

Spot Checking Routinely: As part of your routine asphalt maintenance, keep an eye on your surface throughout the year. Walking around, looking at the surface, and noticing small imperfections can go a long way in helping you see small problems before they become big ones and in protecting your asphalt investment!

 

The team at Gopher State Sealcoat is here to help with all your asphalt maintenance needs in the Twin Cities area, so if you’ve noticed cracking, chipping, or other problems on your asphalt surface, don’t wait. Give us a call at 952-931-9188!

Invest in Asphalt Crack Routing this August in the Twin Cities

Asphalt crack routing is an important part of parking lot maintenance in the Twin Cities area. If you’ve noticed a few cracks or chips in your asphalt, pay attention rather than attempting to ignore the problem so the damage doesn’t become worse!

 

The process of asphalt crack routing utilizes a machine to grind a channel that follows the crack to create a clean, uniform depth and width. Following that, a sealant is injected into the channel that prevents water from seeping into the asphalt and allows for seasonal expansion and contraction. There are a lot of customer perks for investing in asphalt crack routing, including:

 

  • Long-Term Solution: Asphalt crack routing is a cost-effective and long-term solution that will increase the overall lifespan of your parking lot. Since a parking lot tends to be a major expense, it’s worth protecting! If left untreated, however, those pesky asphalt cracks and chips will fill with moisture and eventually become serious potholes in your parking lot.
  • Fewer Expenses: Before those potholes appear, consider the expenses associated with filling a crack versus a pothole. When it comes to asphalt repair, more work equals more expenses. Rather than allowing the problem to get out of hand, for both your parking lot and your bank account, invest in immediate asphalt crack routing instead.
  • Increased Safety: Immediately addressing cracks and chips improves the overall safety of your parking lot, for both cars and pedestrians alike. Worried about car damage or a customer tripping and getting injured due to uneven pavement? Effective asphalt crack routing will remove these safety hazards and keep your business running smoothly!

 

Are you ready to invest in asphalt crack routing in the Twin Cities and provide a long-term, cost-effective, and safe solution for your parking lot? Contact the professional team at Gopher State Sealcoat today and we’ll work with you to ensure that your parking lot is protected this summertime and for the cold months to come!

 

Rather than watching those cracks grow into dangerous pot holes, give our professional team a call today at (952) 931-9188 for all your asphalt crack routing repair needs!

4 Important Questions (and Answers) about Asphalt during Winter

When it comes to sealcoating asphalt in the Twin Cities area, make sure that you ask key questions during the winter months. Snow, slush, and ice can seriously damage your asphalt, especially if it isn’t properly sealed.

Here are just a few questions to consider this season, along with a few quick answers from our asphalt and sealcoat professionals:

 

  1. If snow falls on my unsealed asphalt driveway, will it be permanently damaged?

Not necessarily. If the winter weather hit before you could get that commercial asphalt driveway sealed, it is at an increased risk of damage, but will not necessarily crack before spring arrives. To avoid concerns next season, make sure to get it sealed ASAP!

 

  1. Do I need to de-ice my driveway throughout the winter?

Absolutely! Particularly in the Twin Cities, ice is a safety issue, so make sure to regularly shovel and de-ice, especially if you have a commercial driveway. In addition, de-icing your driveway will keep snow and ice from accumulating and causing serious damage to your asphalt before spring arrives.

 

  1. Which material is best to use when de-icing my driveway?

There are different types of ice melts to use in different quantities and for different materials. Rock salt typically works well on asphalt driveways until the temperature drops below 15 degrees. After that, opt for a magnesium or calcium-based product or consider using sand.

 

  1. How much de-icing material should I use for a commercial space?

When applying de-icing materials to your asphalt, make sure that you use the correct amount. Too much may damage your driveway and too little won’t get the job done. Consult a professional if you are unsure and make certain you’ve got enough to last all winter long!

 

For any other questions about winter asphalt or sealcoat maintenance in the Twin Cities, ask the professionals at Gopher State Sealcoat for assistance. Give our professionals a call today, and make sure your asphalt sealcoat is taken care of all year long!