What can I expect if I contract with Battaglini Sealcoating & Paving LLC?
Q:
What can I expect if I contract with Battaglini Sealcoating & Paving LLC?
A:
You can expect the job to be completed in a timely and professional manner with use of the highest quality materials available. Materials applied expertly with modern machines and methods and by a paving company with high ethical standards that's been serving the Greater Binghamton area for decades. We stand behind their work.
Q:
What is skimming?
Q:
What is skimming?
A:
Skimming is the all too common practice by many Paving Contractors in the Binghamton, Endicott, Vestal, and Johnson City area of applying asphalt in too thin of a layer. Asphalt is the highest cost for a paving contractor on any paving job. That is if they apply the material at the proper depth! When it is under applied or skimmed that contractor will save/make a lot more money. IT IS AN UNETHICAL PRACTICE WE WILL NEVER ENGAGE IN!
Q:
How do I know if I should tear out or just resurface my driveway or parking lot?
Q:
How do I know if I should tear out or just resurface my driveway or parking lot?
A:
The way to tell is if there is significant large cracking or damage resembling alligator skin you may need to tear out the old and do a full depth restoration. If there is only minor or small width cracks you can often resurface over the old asphalt so long as it is installed at the proper depth. We like to resurface driveways and parking lots! We can do several in a day. Tearing out asphalt and dealing with the sub base is very time consuming. If we are advising you to remove your old asphalt it is because we feel that a resurfacing treatment will not last and that removing and replacing the asphalt would be of the best value to you.
Q:
In the proposal I got to tear out and repave my driveway, Battaglini Sealcoating and Paving LLC. recommended that I may want to wait 1 year before I have the top asphalt applied. Why is that?
Q:
In the proposal I got to tear out and repave my driveway, Battaglini Sealcoating and Paving LLC. recommended that I may want to wait 1 year before I have the top asphalt applied. Why is that?
A:
When tearing out the old driveway and then addressing any sub base issues (adding stone if necessary) we disturb the underlying base of the driveway. In spite of the fact that we compact that stone sub base with a state of the art vibratory roller some minor settling may still occur. Allowing the driveway with the Binder Asphalt to settle for a time allows us to shim up any settling that may occur over the winter prior to applying the Top Asphalt. It is not absolutely necessary to wait to finish the driveway, but that is our recommendation to ensure the quality and longevity of your driveway.
Q:
Can I get by with just the first layer of asphalt, the Binder Asphalt only?
Q:
Can I get by with just the first layer of asphalt, the Binder Asphalt only?
A:
We do not recommend leaving the Binder Asphalt exposed to the elements for more than a year or two, particularly in the upstate New York area, with our changing climate. Binder Asphalt with its large stone is very porous and susceptible to water damage if left uncovered for too long. That is the purpose for Top Asphalt, it offers a level of water resistance in addition to being more aesthetically appealing.
Q:
My parking lot has some alligatored areas and potholes. Does Battaglini Sealcoating and Paving LLC do that type of repair work?
Q:
My parking lot has some alligatored areas and potholes. Does Battaglini Sealcoating and Paving LLC do that type of repair work?
A:
Yes. We are uniquely equipped to handle parking lot repairs in the Southern Tier of New York. We have a 24 wide milling machine attachment for our Bobcat track loader which is the perfect machine for chewing out dilapidated asphalt leaving neat edges and allows for full depth repair if required. We also have an infrared heating machine in which we can heat the asphalt, again to full depth, add a rejuvenating fluid and virgin asphalt back into the mix and compact. This leaves a seamless repair that will help resist the elements in the Binghamton area.
Q:
Should I sealcoat the new pavement and if so how long should I wait before doing so?
Q:
Should I sealcoat the new pavement and if so how long should I wait before doing so?
A:
Yes! Sealcoating will waterproof the surface of the asphalt preserving the black asphalt cement and dramatically increasing the life of your pavement. We suggest waiting 1 year after paving before sealing the asphalt. The reason is the volatile oils need time to evaporate off the surface to allow our sealer to adhere.
Q:
I see most Paving Contractors offer sealcoating as one of their services. Do they do it themselves or sub contract it out?
Q:
I see most Paving Contractors offer sealcoating as one of their services. Do they do it themselves or sub contract it out?
A:
Many of our paving competitors use subcontractors to do their sealcoating. They will find the cheapest guy around add some to the price for themselves and you will receive very questionable quality work. Battaglini Sealcoating and Paving uses no subcontractors. We do all of the work ourselves ensuring you of the highest quality and longest lasting job in the Binghamton area.
Q:
A few years ago I had my driveway paved by a company and there were problems with the job. I called numerous times, never getting anything but an answering machine, no one would return my calls. Can I expect better from Battaglini?
Q:
A few years ago I had my driveway paved by a company and there were problems with the job. I called numerous times, never getting anything but an answering machine, no one would return my calls. Can I expect better from Battaglini?
A:
You bet you can! We answer our phone! We are an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating. We have thousands of loyal customers throughout the area, including Binghamton, Endicott, Vestal, and Johnson City, because of the quality work, attention to detail and true customer care. Give us a call and you will see why we are so successful. It starts with our mother Rita taking your call. Mom is friendly and responsive to our customers and if any customer calls with a problem you better believe her son’s cell phones are blowing up! From beginning to end we promise you a uniquely positive experience with our Company.
Q:
When my parking lot was first paved it was jet black, but two years later it is turning gray. What is happening?
Q:
When my parking lot was first paved it was jet black, but two years later it is turning gray. What is happening?
A:
The asphalt cement ("a/c"), which is the black liquid that binds the aggregate (stone) together to form blacktop, has no resistance to the oxidizing effects of the infrared radiation produced by the sun. Infrared radiation attacks your parking lot even on a cloudy day and the asphalt cement is being evaporated away, showing the lighter gray color of the stones that make up the blacktop. Our coal tar sealer is impervious to oxidation.
Q:
Battaglini Sealcoating and Paving LLC says they use a "primer" prior to their sealcoating. What is primer?
Q:
Battaglini Sealcoating and Paving LLC says they use a "primer" prior to their sealcoating. What is primer?
A:
Sealers only adhere to the asphalt cement on blacktop. One year after a parking lot is installed the asphalt cement has oxidized away to a point where the sealer cannot achieve an effective bond with the pavement. This effect causes premature wearing of the sealer film. At Battaglini Sealcoating and Paving LLC, our first coat is a special coating of penetrating primer, which is a thin tacky film that will provide a bond between the oxidized pavement and the subsequent coats of coal tar sealer.
Q:
How will my lot be cleaned?
Q:
How will my lot be cleaned?
A:
The determining factor is the amount of dirt and debris on your lot. Most lots can be blown clean with pneumatic (air) blowers, but dirtier parking lots need to be power washed. Sealcoating will not adhere to dirty pavement.
Q:
If sealcoating is so beneficial, why aren't roads and highways sealed?
Q:
If sealcoating is so beneficial, why aren't roads and highways sealed?
A:
Highways are continuously kneaded by the tires of the high volume traffic. This keeps the pavement lively, pumping the oils in the blacktop to the surface. In many municipalities the roads are sealcoated, using materials like slurry seal or Micro-Pave. The problem with driveways and parking lots is that they do not receive this continuous traffic flow, and are therefore far more vulnerable to the detrimental effects of the environment.
Q:
I had my parking lot sealed years ago and it didn't last. Why?
Q:
I had my parking lot sealed years ago and it didn't last. Why?
A:
The most common reason for premature failure of sealcoating on a parking lot is the contractor's failure to use primer, so the sealcoating never bonded properly to the pavement. Alternately, it is possible they did not apply enough sealer (only a single coat), or used a poor grade or diluted sealer.
Q:
What is the difference between hot and cold poured crack fillers?
Q:
What is the difference between hot and cold poured crack fillers?
A:
Cold pour types of crack fillers are not heated. Once they dry they become hard and brittle and rarely last more than one season. Hot pour crack filler, on the other hand, is a rubber material heated to 400 degrees and poured into the crack, where it then bonds with the sidewalls of the crack. Hot pour crack filler maintains its flexibility throughout the temperature range and is a vastly superior product to cold pour. Battaglini Sealcoating and Paving LLC uses only hot pour crack filler.
Q:
What can I expect if I have Battaglini Sealcoating and Paving LLC sealcoat my parking lot?
Q:
What can I expect if I have Battaglini Sealcoating and Paving LLC sealcoat my parking lot?
A:
You can count on the owners being on the job. You can be assured of the best possible job with the highest quality materials using state-of-the art equipment and methods. You will receive follow-up visits from us to make sure the job is done right. We are looking for long term relationships with our customers, not short term financial gain.
Q:
What makes Battaglini Sealcoating and Paving LLC the best choice to sealcoat my parking lot?
Q:
What makes Battaglini Sealcoating and Paving LLC the best choice to sealcoat my parking lot?
A:
At Battaglini Sealcoating and Paving LLC paving and maintenance is our main business, not a sideline. We are not a line striping company or landscaping company who got into the business because our customers were asking us about sealcoating. Paving and maintenance is all we do and we feel we are the best at it. Let us prove it to you.
Q:
How long can I expect a sealcoating job to last?
Q:
How long can I expect a sealcoating job to last?
A:
There are too many factors to give an absolute specific answer to that question. The amount of traffic the parking lot receives, the type of traffic and how snow is removed are the primary determining factors of sealcoat wear. Battaglini Sealcoating and Paving LLC tailors the job to each lot. High traffic parking lots receive three (3) coats in the traffic lanes in addition to the primer coat. This helps to promote more even wear. You can typically expect your lot to last 3 to 5 years before you would need to reapply sealer.
Q:
Will sealcoating make my parking lot slippery?
Q:
Will sealcoating make my parking lot slippery?
A:
No. We use a high sand-load mixed in with our sealer which will make your lot much more slip resistant than if it were not sealed. Also, snow removal will be greatly enhanced, and because of the black color the sun will melt snow and ice at a much faster rate.
Q:
The company that paved my driveway told me I should not get it sealed. Why is that?
Q:
The company that paved my driveway told me I should not get it sealed. Why is that?
A:
Some pavers do not understand the benefits of sealcoating, as they are not in that business. They are in the asphalt installation business. It is also to their benefit that your driveway deteriorates so that they may come back and pave it again in the near future.
Q:
Why not seal the driveway myself?
Q:
Why not seal the driveway myself?
A:
We have been sealing driveways for 25 years. The average home owner does not do enough driveways in his lifetime to become proficient at it, and our sealcoating is vastly superior to the materials available at home improvement stores. The sealer we use is commercial grade and meets United States Airport Specification RP355D.
Q:
My driveway was just paved. When should I seal it?
Q:
My driveway was just paved. When should I seal it?
A:
The way to tell if your driveway is ready to be sealed is to do the "water test". Pour some water onto the surface. If the water shows an oily sheen it means the volatile oils are still being given off by the pavement and it is too soon to seal. Typically, we find that 1 year after installation is the ideal time to sealcoat.
Q:
How should I have sealer applied to my driveway?
Q:
How should I have sealer applied to my driveway?
A:
By brush. Spray sealcoating does not apply enough sealer to your driveway. Battaglini Sealcoating and Paving LLC applies the sealer with a brush, giving you more than twice the amount of sealer in the application.
Q:
What type of sealcoating should I put on my driveway?
Q:
What type of sealcoating should I put on my driveway?
A:
Coal tar. Coal tar provides 50 percent greater wear resistance than asphalt emulsion sealer. It is impervious to gas and oil and is a slip resistant surface.
Q:
I've got an estimate from a sealcoating company who says they do not put sand in their sealer. Is it necessary to have sand in the sealer?
Q:
I've got an estimate from a sealcoating company who says they do not put sand in their sealer. Is it necessary to have sand in the sealer?
A:
Yes. Sealer fills in the void spaces of your driveway, making it potentially slippery. It is crucial that sand be mixed in with the sealer to provide you with a slip-resistant surface.
Q:
A sealcoating company told me that their sealer is "oil based". What does that mean?
Q:
A sealcoating company told me that their sealer is "oil based". What does that mean?
A:
All sealers start with an oil base, but there are two very important differences between coal tar/asphalt emulsion sealer and asphalt cutback sealer. Coal tar and asphalt emulsion sealers are water soluble types, that is to say they are carried by water and as the water evaporates a solid film is left behind. Asphalt cutback sealers can only be cut with a solvent, such as kerosene or naphthalene. They are very poor performing materials. Newly sealed driveways that have a very shiny appearance have been sealed with sprayed-on asphalt cutback.
Q:
We had our driveway sealed by a company a few years ago. We stayed off the drive for 24 hours. It looked dry, but it tracked all over our carpets and tile in the house.
Q:
We had our driveway sealed by a company a few years ago. We stayed off the drive for 24 hours. It looked dry, but it tracked all over our carpets and tile in the house.
A:
It was probably an asphalt cut-back sealer. Because these sealers are solvent based, they remain tacky long after the sealer is applied. It is not simply a matter of the water evaporating out, as with coal tar sealer. The asphalt cutback is meant to be a foundation coating, but some contractors erroneously use it as a driveway sealer. Again, an asphalt cutback sealcoating job appears shiny after it has dried.
Q:
When my driveway was first paved it was jet black, but two years later it is turning gray. What is happening?
Q:
When my driveway was first paved it was jet black, but two years later it is turning gray. What is happening?
A:
The asphalt cement ("a/c"), which is the black liquid that binds the aggregate (stone) together to form blacktop, has no resistance to the oxidizing effects of the infrared radiation produced by the sun. Infrared radiation attacks your driveway even on a cloudy day and the asphalt cement is being evaporated away, showing the lighter gray color of the stones that make up the blacktop. Our coal tar sealer is impervious to oxidation.
Q:
Why should I have Battaglini Sealcoating and Paving LLC sealcoat my driveway?
Q:
Why should I have Battaglini Sealcoating and Paving LLC sealcoat my driveway?
A:
We have been in business over 20 years and work hard to maintain our reputation. We are not a "here today, gone tomorrow" outfit. We have thousands of customers who believe in us and return to us again and again.
