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A switch to asphalt sealer
Maul says the Cantera 30 job was the first time they'd ever used an asphalt-based sealer, but they felt they had little choice. Originally the job was supposed to happen in the spring but it was delayed to summer, then it was pushed to after Labor Day. And the schedule called for the local SealMaster franchise four tankers (20,000 gallons of pre-mix) of material at the site right after Labor Day.

"With all that was happening last year with coal tar we felt we were going to have a problem getting enough coal tar sealer and we didn't want to want to sealcoat half the lot with coal tar and half the lot with asphalt because it would be noticeably different because of the sheen," Maul says.

So they talked with the supplier and in the end felt comfortable enough with the product and support that they decided to switch to asphalt emulsion - on the biggest job they'd every done.

"The customer was pretty much open to either product. They didn't have an issue with us using asphalt-based sealers," Maul says. "Their biggest issue was 'Is the price going to change?' and we said 'No' and they said 'Will it hold up?' and we said 'Yes.' That's all they needed to hear."

Maul says that after using coal tar it took a little time to get the feel of asphalt emulsion sealer. He says it's a little heavier product so it took some time to get used to spraying it.