Questions to Ask a Sealcoating Contractor Before Hiring
Updated July 6, 2026
Before hiring a sealcoating contractor, ask how the pavement will be cleaned, whether cracks and oil spots are included, what material will be used, how many coats are included, how the sealer is mixed, what weather conditions are required, how long the area must stay closed, whether striping is included, and what is excluded from the bid. These questions help separate a complete sealcoating scope from a thin coating with little preparation.
Sealcoating is often priced quickly, but the details matter. A cheap-looking bid may exclude cleaning, crack filling, oil treatment, striping, traffic control, and return visits, while another bid may include more preparation and look higher at first glance.
This is the master question bank for the sealcoating hiring hub — what to ask the contractor in conversation, at the site walk, and after receiving a proposal. It is not a hiring guide; for contractor selection, see How to Choose a Sealcoating Contractor.
Surface preparation questions
Good sealcoating starts with a clean, dry surface.
- How will the pavement be cleaned?
- Will you blow, sweep, or power broom the surface?
- Will vegetation be removed from pavement edges?
- How will loose gravel be handled?
- Are dirty or muddy areas excluded?
- What happens if the pavement is wet on the scheduled day?
- Will the surface be inspected before coating begins?
Crack treatment questions
Crack treatment should be specific — "seal cracks as needed" is too vague for a commercial project.
- Are cracks included in this proposal?
- What crack width is included?
- Are cracks cleaned before filling?
- Are you using cold pour filler or hot rubber crack seal?
- Are all cracks included or only selected cracks?
- Is crack filling priced separately?
- What cracks are too wide or too deteriorated to fill?
Oil spot questions
Oil can prevent sealer from bonding. This is common in parking stalls, driveways, dumpsters, and maintenance areas.
- Are oil spots included?
- Will oil spots be cleaned, primed, or excluded?
- Are heavily contaminated areas expected to reject sealer?
- Are oil-damaged areas recommended for repair instead?
- Will you identify oil spots before work begins?
Material and application questions
You don't need a chemistry lecture, but you do need enough detail to compare proposals. If one contractor is pricing one thin coat and another is pricing two coats with sand, the bids are not equal.
- What type of sealer will be used?
- Is sand included, and are additives included?
- How much water is added?
- How many coats are included?
- Will the sealer be sprayed, squeegeed, or brushed?
- Are high-traffic drive lanes treated differently?
- Is the application rate stated?
Weather, timing, and commercial access questions
Weather can affect adhesion, curing, and finished appearance. For commercial lots, HOAs, apartments, and facilities, access planning matters as much as the coating itself.
- What temperature is needed, and what happens if rain is forecast?
- How long must vehicles and pedestrians stay off the surface?
- Will the work be phased, and who provides notices?
- Will emergency access remain open?
- How will dumpsters, deliveries, mail, and tenants be handled?
- What is the reopening plan?
- Are cones, barricades, and caution tape included?
Striping, warranty, and exclusion questions
For parking lots, you may also need Parking Lot Striping Contractors and, where accessibility is involved, ADA Parking Contractors. Written exclusions reduce disputes.
- Is striping included, and will the existing layout be restriped?
- Are ADA stalls, fire lanes, arrows, and curb painting included?
- Is there a workmanship warranty, and what does it cover?
- Are tire marks, oil spots, or existing pavement failure excluded?
- Are cracks excluded after coating, or is repair excluded?
Frequently asked questions
What is the first question to ask a sealcoating contractor?
Ask how the pavement will be prepared before coating. Cleaning, crack treatment, and oil spot handling often separate a complete scope from a weak one.
Should I ask what material is being used?
Yes. Ask for the sealer type, number of coats, sand additive, and dilution details where available.
Should crack filling be included?
It depends on the project. Some contractors include crack filling, some price it separately, and some exclude it. The proposal should say which approach is being used.
Should parking lot striping be included?
For parking lots, striping should either be included or clearly excluded. Sealcoating usually covers existing markings.
Are oil spots a problem before sealcoating?
Yes. Oil contamination can cause poor adhesion. Heavy oil areas may need cleaning, priming, or repair.
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