BIG A Gilsonite Asphalt Oil Sealer for Driveway Sealcoating 5 Gallon

There are a lot of contractors who use Gilsonite sealers as a general sealer and while this is fine in most situations, we recommend using the BIG A Gilsonite Asphalt Sealer as an asphalt rejuvenator for old asphalt.

Since Gilsonite sealers are a solvent based sealer, the solvents soften the top layers of the old asphalt binder and allow the new asphalt binders to mix with it.  Where it gets interesting is the use of the Gilsonite which is a naturally occurring and unique form of asphalt that has been fortified with other natural elements to form a harder and stronger asphalt.  What this means for you, is a new top coat of asphalt that removes the old oxidized layers and replaces it as if it were new.

Really what this comes down to, is what you want out of your sealer.  If you have new asphalt that is maybe 1 to 2 years old, it's in good shape and you will want to use an asphalt emulsion or coal tar sealer to "seal" the top layer of asphalt so the sun and weather doesn't oxidize it.

However, if you have older asphalt that is 5 to 10 years old, or even older, you may want to consider using the BIG A Gilsonite Asphalt Sealer so you can repair the top layer and remove the oxidization.  Once you've repaired your asphalt with the Gilsonite sealer, you would come back 1 to 2 years later and seal it with a good quality cover based sealer like asphalt emulsion or coal tar.

Gilsonite Sealers have become a very popular product world wide because of it's ability to penetrate further into existing asphalt, bond with it and rejuvenate the top layers that are damaged by weather. Our BIG A Asphalt Sealer is also designed to penetrate the top layers, but to a slightly lesser degree.

Keep Away from Flames

Since the BIG A Gilsonite Sealer is solvent based, that means it is also flammable. Keep this product away from open flames by NEVER bringing it up to temperature using a torch or similar "open heating" type of system.

Application Methods

In addition, because this is a solvent based sealer, it makes it more difficult to use in traditional sealcoating spray systems. The solvent can eventually eat through the rubber seals and hoses if they are not designed to withstand solvent solutions. Because of this, there are several options to consider:

1. Recommended Method - Apply by hand as thin as possible with a sealcoat squeegee or sealcoat brush
2. Convert your pump seals to withstand solvents (We have oil upgrade options available for the BIG A brand of sealcoat systems via phone +1(800) 689-2098)
3. Convert your entire pump to a "Gear Driven" pump (Not an option we currently offer with our line of sealcoat spray systems)

Over-Application Warning

Over application needs to be avoided when at all possible.  That said, if you end up with some extra sealer in the bucket and want to get rid of it, you can apply a very very thin second coat once the first coat has fully cured.  We recommend avoiding any over-application whenever you can because this can lead to the asphalt softening but yes, it is possible if you take care of how much you apply.

Solvents Soften Asphalt

Since the point of the solvent is to soften the old asphalt to bind with the new, applying a layer of Gilsonite Sealer that is too thick can keep your asphalt from curing properly.  In most cases if you apply it too thick, it will cure just fine over time, but in some rare cases it could take weeks or even months to fully cure.  As long as you make sure to apply a coat as thin as possible, you'll be just fine using a solvent based oil sealer.