Sealcoating Business Still Going Strong After 10 Years

Ten years ago, Ray Mason worked as an estimator for Gallagher Asphalt. A co-worker of his had a sealcoating business that he was looking to sell. He had young children and wanted to spend more time at home with the family. He asked if Mason would be interested in taking over the business.

Mason presented his wife Sherri with the news. It was a plan. At the time of the decision, the couple had Rachel, who was attending college and their son, Clifton was just going to begin his college career.

That’s when in took off.

“It was ideal to do this,” said owner Sherri Mason. “My kids had a summer job when they came home from college.”

Rachel and Clifton, now 27 and 28, still help run the family business. Sherri will do sealcoating jobs between driving a bus for and teaching pilates classes at the and in Minooka. Ray will take on jobs after a days work as a warehouse manager for Costco.

“We do quality work,” Mason said. “We use good material that is not watered down.”

And if a sealcoating job is not to the standards of the customer, Mason said the job will be redone.

“We stand behind what we do,” Mason said. “We treat any job like we would do our own driveway.”

The Process

Sealcoating can begin as early as May and go as far as Halloween. This of course depends on the weather and the amount of sunlight. Uncooperative weather and limited sunlight effects the drying process, Mason said.

“There can’t be any chance of freeze or it (sealcoating) will not set and will peel off,” Mason said. “The temperature has to be at least in the 40s at night to begin a job.”

The physical application process on average only takes an hour, Mason said. And jobs are not limited to just the -Minooka area. Mason said she has both residential and commercial customers as far south in and C, as well as in the far North Suburbs.

Before sealing a driveway, Mason said the driveway needs to be measured to determine a price. A driveway leading to a three-car garage will be slightly higher than one leading to a two-car garage, she said.

Next, debris is blown off the driveway. Mason will than carefully examine the driveway for cracks. Anything bigger than a hairline crack will be filled in. 

The water-based material is than applied onto the driveway with a broom. The sealant is sprayed onto bigger driveways. However, it is never applied with the sprayer on windy days, Mason said.

Mason said after the job is complete, she will stake a colored ribbon across the end of the driveway. She said this will help prevent the driveway from being walked or driven on while drying.

“On a warm day, it takes at least 24 hours to dry,” Mason said.

Quality Asphalt Services also has striped parking lots. They also have striped residential driveways into basketball courts, Mason said.

Sealcoating is not recommended to be done annually, Mason said. It’s good to do have it done every two to three years.

“You don’t do it every year because the sealant will build-up and will peel off. It has to wear off,” Mason said. “We are honest with our customers. If they don’t need it done, we will tell them.”

For a quote and further information about Quality Asphalt Services, contact Sherri and Ray at either 815-467-4267 or 815-954-0762.