Project Overview
EARTHTEK Paving and Grinding Inc completed this commercial sealcoating project at an AutoZone location in San Jose, CA, restoring the parking lot's protective layer and its like-new appearance. Our crew prepped and cleaned the full surface, sealed active cracks, and applied commercial-grade sealer in uniform coats — phased so the store stayed open and customers kept parking throughout the project.
For a retail auto parts store, the parking lot works overtime: constant customer turnover, delivery trucks, and — uniquely for this category — a steady dose of oil, coolant, and fluid drips from the DIY repairs and part swaps that happen in the lot itself. Those petroleum fluids are exactly what breaks down unprotected asphalt. Sealcoating is the defense: it shields the surface from fluid penetration, blocks UV oxidation, seals out water, and restores the clean, jet-black look that makes a retail property feel well-kept.
Scope of Work
- Full surface cleaning and preparation
- Oil spot priming
- Crack sealing
- Commercial sealcoat application in phased sections
Why This Project Was Needed
Retail lots in San Jose's climate show these signs when the sealcoat clock runs out:
- Gray, faded asphalt — year-round sun oxidizes unsealed pavement, drying out the binder and making the surface brittle
- Oil and fluid staining — especially at an auto parts store, where dripped oil and coolant actively dissolve unprotected asphalt
- Spreading surface cracks — small cracks let water into the base, where minor wear becomes structural failure
- Rough, raveling texture — a worn surface sheds fine aggregate and ages faster with every season
- Dull curb appeal — a faded, stained lot undercuts the storefront; a fresh black surface reads as a well-run business
- Asset economics — sealcoating every 2–3 years costs a fraction of repaving and can roughly double a lot's service life
Our Sealcoating Process
- Lot assessment & phasing plan — Inspect the pavement, map cracks and oil spots, and divide the lot into sections so customer parking and store deliveries continue uninterrupted.
- Surface cleaning — Sweep, blow, and scrape the full surface; sealer only performs on clean pavement.
- Oil spot priming — Treat oil and fluid stains with a bonding primer — a critical step at an auto parts location — so the sealer adheres instead of peeling.
- Crack sealing — Rout, clean, and fill active cracks with hot rubberized sealant to stop water intrusion before sealing.
- Sealcoat application — Apply commercial-grade sealer in two uniform coats by spray or squeegee, with extra attention in drive lanes and entrances where wear concentrates.
- Curing & phased reopening — Barricade each section for 24–48 hours of cure time, then reopen and move to the next — the store never closes.
Equipment Used on This Project
- Sealcoating spray rig and squeegee equipment
- Hot rubberized crack sealing kettle
- Power blowers, brooms, and surface prep tools
- Oil spot primer application equipment
- Barricades, cones, and phasing/traffic control
- Crew trucks and material transfer
The Result
A protected, uniform, jet-black parking lot — cracks sealed, oil spots primed and covered, and the full surface shielded against fluids, UV, and water. The store stayed open through every phase, and the property gained years of pavement life plus the fresh curb appeal that pulls customers in.
Need Commercial Sealcoating in San Jose or the South Bay?
Whether you manage one retail location or a portfolio of properties, EARTHTEK Paving and Grinding Inc delivers commercial sealcoating and pavement maintenance on schedules that keep your doors open. Contact us today for a free pavement assessment.