About Seal Coating
Asphalt Sealing, or seal coating, is simply laying a thin protective layer over asphalt-based pavement to give it a protective layer of protection against the elements: oil, water, and U.V. The positive effects of asphalt sealing have long been debated. Some claim that asphalt sealing increases the lifespan of the pavement, but again, there’s no evidence that backs up those claims. Asphalt sealing can damage the pavement by creating cracks. The excessive water and oil that can be soaked into the asphalt also weaken its structural integrity. And the chemical fumes emitted during asphalt sealing can also be harmful to humans.
With all of that in mind, it’s not surprising that many business owners, when they set out to perform asphalt sealing, opt to go the non-per square foot route. The costs are much lower, often no more than a few cents per square foot. And the benefits of lower cost and improved performance are well-known. After all, if you want to save money, you want to reduce your operation costs.
But that brings us to our next question: Are asphalt sealing pads a good solution for parking lots, blacktop driveways, or other paved surfaces? As with any typical maintenance procedure, regular maintenance is the best way to reduce the cost of asphalt sealing. Sealing at least annually will help keep dust, pollen, and other pollutants from making their way onto your paved surfaces. It will also help protect your driveway from water damage, as well as mold and algae growth, both of which cause a lot of problems to homeowners.
Now let’s look at how often you should reseal your asphalt surfaces, especially if you’re going to go the non-per square foot route. The key, again, is regular maintenance. And as it turns out, the best time to perform asphalt sealing and resealing are during the cold winter months. There’s even been some recent evidence suggesting that the best time for asphalt sealing and resealing is during the fall when temperatures are quite low.
Why is that? Fall is when most asphalt-based park finishes and protective coatings need to be applied. Asphalt-based park finishes are very weather-resistant, but that doesn’t mean that they’re impervious to the elements. The rainy spring weather can still cause problems, as can heavy snow, ice, and even dew. So, by applying the protective coatings only during the wet winter months, you’ll be doing your park and business no favors, and in the end, your asphalt sealing and resealing efforts will be wasted.
Here’s why: Asphalt seal coats are extremely dense. Think about asphalt sealing and resealing – it’s the same product, just in a different form. And that means that you have to apply a lot less of it to achieve the same degree of protection. That’s why a lot of asphalt maintenance and repair companies (which specialize in asphalt sealing and resealing) will advise you to apply a minimum of three or four gallons of asphalt-based protectant per square foot of paved area. In other words, if you have a parking lot of ten thousand square feet, you’d want to apply three gallons per every twenty-five feet of the paved area.
If you were to apply that kind of service to your asphalt driveway, you could expect to pay anywhere from three to five dollars per square foot. Now consider that the average cost of asphalt sealing and resealing is only about two or three dollars per square foot. Multiply those two by the number of feet of asphalt you’re going to need to cover (per your parking lot, for example), and you quickly come to understand how much asphalt sealing and resealing would cost you. Applying the service yourself would cost you at least a thousand dollars or more. Not very appealing, I’d say.
But, don’t give up just yet – there are other ways to protect your asphalt driveway seal coating and resealing investment, and they won’t cost you nearly as much, so don’t rule them out just yet. One of those ways is called flashings, which are like raised bumps along the edge of your driveway that will serve as an additional traction aid when you drive over it. The average cost of installing these would be about two hundred dollars, with the total installed cost running into the thousands. Another less expensive alternative is a thin film of asphalt seal coating that has a plastic protective layer between it and the ground, as opposed to flashing. It’s about as thick as standard asphalt, which would then have to be applied to your asphalt driveway seal coating and resurfacing project in much the same way.
About Ballwin, Missouri
Ballwin is a western suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 31,103 as of the 2020 census.
Ballwin was established in 1837. The community was named for John Ball, who settled at the town site in 1804. A post office called Ballwin has been in operation since 1866.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.99 square miles (23.28 km), all land.
As of the 2020 Census, there were 31,103 people and 11,922 households living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 81.1% White, 3.0% African American, 0.2% Native American, 8.8% Asian, 1.0% other races, and 5.8% two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.1% of the population.
As of the census of 2010, there were 30,404 people, 11,874 households, and 8,631 families living in the city. The population density was 3,382.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,305.8/km2). There were 12,435 housing units at an average density of 1,383.2 per square mile (534.1/km). The racial makeup of the city was 89.3% White, 2.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 5.6% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.4% of the population.
There were 11,874 households, of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples living together, 15% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.3% were non-families. 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.04.
The median age in the city was 41.2 years. 24.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.7% were from 25 to 44; 29.5% were from 45 to 64; and 15.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,283 people, 11,797 households, and 8,942 families living in the city. The population density was 3,494.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,349.3/km2). There were 12,062 housing units at an average density of 1,347.4 per square mile (520.2/km). The racial makeup of the city was 75.39% White, 10.50% African American, 0.22% Native American, 5.27% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.86% of the population.
There were 11,797 households, out of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.6% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.2% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.0% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $66,458 and the median income for a family was $77,021 (these figures had risen to $76,931 and $94,989 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $56,056 versus $32,202 for females. The per capita income for the city was $29,520. About 2.0% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.
Ballwin is home to many schools within the Parkway School District, including Parkway West High School, and Claymont, Henry, Oak Brook, and Sorrento Springs elementary schools.
Ballwin also contains several schools within the Rockwood School District, including Selvidge Middle School, Ballwin, Westridge, and Woerther elementary schools.
Holy Infant School is a Catholic private school in Ballwin that includes Pre-K through Eighth Grade.
Lion's Choice, a roast beef fast food chain, was founded in Ballwin.
Several Churches, Mosques and Synagogues exist in the city.
Salem in Ballwin United Methodist Church is located along Manchester Road, in the heart of Ballwin. The church was founded in 1846 by Brother H. Hohmann, a German immigrant involved with the German Methodist Episcopal Church. The original church was built in 1870, and traditional Methodist services are still conducted each Sunday inside. During 21st century renovations, a sign was discovered within the church that is thought to have hung within the original 1870 church, which reads: "ehre sei gott in der höhe," meaning "Glory to God in the highest." The sign was once again hung up in the church and can be found at the rear of the sanctuary. Despite its small size, the church is involved in assisting an orphanage located in South Africa.
Vlasis Park is the largest park in Ballwin. It is located North of Manchester Road between Seven Trails Dr., Ball Park Drive, and Holloway Road. Vlasis Park covers 31 acres and features a baseball diamond, a playground, four tennis courts, restrooms, two ponds (one of which is stocked with fish), two pavilions, a walking path, and a sand volleyball court. Vlasis Park is the location of the annual Ballwin Days Festival.
Ballwin is also home to New Ballwin Park, Ferris Park, Greenfield Commons, and Holloway Park.
The Pointe at Ballwin Commons hosts an indoor pool and fitness center. The North Pointe Aquatic Center is an outdoor pool open only during the summer. Adjacent to the North Pointe is the Ballwin Golf Course.