Question 1

Is Pitch Black® coal tar free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Pitch Black® is a 100% coal-tar-free asphalt emulsion sealer. There is no refined coal tar, no coal tar pitch, and no coal-tar distillate in the formula — it is a polymer-reinforced, rubberized asphalt emulsion blended in Kalispell, Montana.

Question 2

How do you prove Pitch Black® is coal-tar-free?

Accepted Answer

Third-party testing. PRI Asphalt Technologies ran Batch 1071 under EPA Method 8310 for all 18 regulated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and detected none above the method detection limit — 0.00 ppm total PAH. Coal-tar sealers routinely test in the thousands of ppm. We provide the PRI report, Technical Bulletin, and SDS with any bid package or wholesale order.

Question 3

Can Pitch Black® be used where coal-tar sealers are banned?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Because it contains no coal tar and carries a 0.00 ppm total PAH result, Pitch Black® is usable in jurisdictions that have banned coal-tar pavement sealants — including Washington State, Minneapolis, Austin, and dozens of Great Lakes and watershed communities. It also satisfies coal-tar-free language commonly written into municipal, school district, and HOA specifications.

Question 4

Does going coal-tar-free mean giving up durability?

Accepted Answer

No. Pitch Black® is engineered to meet or exceed the performance benchmarks buyers associate with legacy coal-tar products: minimum 50% solids, ASTM D-3910 wet track abrasion of 35g or less, ASTM D-562 viscosity of 75 KU minimum, and Federal Spec TT-C-551B resistance to 98 mph wind-driven rain. Expected service life is 3–5 years with proper prep and two-coat application.

Question 5

Why does coal-tar-free matter near Flathead Lake and Montana waterways?

Accepted Answer

Coal-tar sealers shed PAH-laden dust and runoff that settles into lake and stream sediment, where it is linked to aquatic toxicity. With this much surface water across Northwest Montana and North Idaho, we will not put that on the ground — which is why every gallon we manufacture and apply is coal-tar-free.

Question 6

Is Pitch Black® safe for staff, tenants, and pets after it cures?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Pitch Black® is water-based, non-flammable when wet, contains no asbestos fibers or carcinogenic materials per the SDS, and tests at 0.00 ppm total PAH. Keep foot traffic off for a few hours and vehicles off for 24 hours; once cured the surface is inert and safe for normal use.

Question 7

What is the difference between a coal tar sealer and an asphalt emulsion sealer?

Accepted Answer

Coal-tar sealers are built on refined coal tar pitch, a byproduct of coking coal that carries high concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Asphalt emulsion sealers like Pitch Black® use asphalt — the same binder already in the pavement — emulsified in water and reinforced with polymers and rubber. The practical differences: emulsion bonds to the existing asphalt binder, stays flexible through freeze/thaw cycles, and tests at 0.00 ppm total PAH instead of the thousands of ppm typical of coal tar.

Question 8

Which states and cities have banned coal tar sealers?

Accepted Answer

Washington State and Minnesota have statewide restrictions, and bans or procurement prohibitions exist in Austin, Minneapolis, Washington D.C., Suffolk County NY, and dozens of Great Lakes and Chesapeake watershed communities. Montana and Idaho have no statewide ban, but individual HOAs, school districts, and municipal specs increasingly require coal-tar-free products. Pitch Black® meets those requirements everywhere we ship — Montana, Idaho, Eastern Washington, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Question 9

Is there a coal-tar-free driveway sealer for homeowners?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Pitch Black® is the same coal-tar-free asphalt emulsion whether it goes on a 40,000 sq ft parking lot or a residential driveway. Homeowners in Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Bigfork, Lakeside, and Somers get the identical 0.00 ppm PAH formula our commercial crews spray, applied in two coats. Call (406) 309-SEAL for driveway sealcoating pricing in your city.

Question 10

Does coal-tar-free sealcoating cost more than coal tar?

Accepted Answer

Per gallon, quality asphalt emulsion and coal tar land in the same range, and because we manufacture Pitch Black® in Kalispell there is no long-haul freight built into the price. Where coal-tar-free saves money is on the back end: no reformulation when a jurisdiction adds a ban, no removal risk on PAH-restricted sites, and no disqualified bid when a spec calls for coal-tar-free material. We quote by measured square footage — call for pricing.

Question 11

What documentation proves a sealer is PAH-free for a bid or RFP?

Accepted Answer

Three documents, and we attach all three to every bid and wholesale order: the third-party PRI Asphalt Technologies report showing EPA Method 8310 results for all 18 regulated PAHs at 0.00 ppm total, the Pitch Black® Technical Bulletin listing the ASTM performance results, and the Safety Data Sheet confirming no asbestos fibers or carcinogenic materials. That package satisfies the coal-tar-free and PAH-free language written into most municipal, school district, and HOA specifications.

Question 12

Does coal-tar-free sealer protect stormwater, wells, and lake water?

Accepted Answer

It removes the largest known PAH source in pavement runoff. Studies of urban lake sediment repeatedly trace PAH loading back to coal-tar sealcoat dust washing off parking lots into storm drains. Around Flathead Lake, Whitefish Lake, Lake Pend Oreille, and the private wells across the valley, that risk is not worth taking — so every gallon we manufacture and apply is coal-tar-free and water-based.

Question 13

What makes Pitch Black® different from regular sealers?

Accepted Answer

Pitch Black® is a proprietary, polymer-reinforced, rubberized asphalt sealer—not a watered-down commodity product. The formula is engineered for flexibility, adhesion, and long-lasting color retention in harsh freeze/thaw climates.

Question 14

How long does Pitch Black® last?

Accepted Answer

With proper application and surface prep, Pitch Black® typically provides 3-5 years of protection depending on traffic volume, sun exposure, and maintenance practices. Regular maintenance applications extend overall pavement life significantly.

Question 15

Is Pitch Black® environmentally safe?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Per manufacturer testing, Pitch Black® contains 0.00 ppm total PAH content (EPA 8310), is free from asbestos fibers and carcinogenic materials, and is non-flammable when wet. It meets or exceeds environmental standards for pavement sealers.

Question 16

Can Pitch Black® be applied in cold weather?

Accepted Answer

Pitch Black® should be applied when surface and ambient temperatures are above 50°F and rising. Our region's application season typically runs from late spring through early fall, depending on conditions.

Question 17

How soon can traffic return after application?

Accepted Answer

Light foot traffic can typically resume in 2-3 hours under moderate conditions. Vehicle traffic should stay off for a full 24 hours to ensure proper curing and maximum durability.

Question 18

Do you offer Pitch Black® for wholesale purchase?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Summit Surface Partners is the exclusive regional Pitch Black® distributor for MT, ID, Eastern WA, ND, and SD. We supply bulk totes, 55-gallon drums, and pallet quantities to contractors, municipalities, and property managers — with the Technical Bulletin, Slurry Bulletin, and SDS on file for every order.

Question 19

What ASTM specs does Pitch Black® meet?

Accepted Answer

Per the manufacturer Technical Bulletin, Pitch Black® meets or exceeds: ASTM D-217 cone penetration (340mm minimum), ASMA A-1 nonvolatile components (50% minimum solids), ASTM D-2042 nonvolatiles soluble in tri-chloroethylene (10–35%), ASTM D-244 water content (15–20%), ASTM D-3910 wet track abrasion (≤35g loss), ASTM C-136 mineral aggregate (#16 sieve, 100% passing), and ASTM D-562 viscosity (75 KU minimum). It also passes Federal Specs TT-C-555B (accelerated weathering, no deterioration) and TT-C-551B (resistance to 98 mph wind-driven rain).

Question 20

What does the 0.00 ppm PAH result actually mean?

Accepted Answer

PRI Asphalt Technologies tested Batch 1071 of Pitch Black® under EPA Method 8310 for all 18 regulated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. None of the 18 PAH compounds were detected above the method detection limit, so total PAH was reported as 0.00 ppm. By contrast, coal-tar sealers — which are banned in Washington State, Minneapolis, Austin, and many watersheds — routinely test in the thousands of ppm. Pitch Black® is an asphalt-emulsion sealer (not coal tar), and the third-party PRI report documents that for HOA boards, school districts, and municipal RFPs.

Question 21

Is Pitch Black® a coal tar sealer?

Accepted Answer

No. Pitch Black® is an asphalt-emulsion sealer — polymer-reinforced and rubberized. It contains no coal tar and tests at 0.00 ppm total PAH (EPA Method 8310), which is why it is approved for use in jurisdictions that have banned coal-tar sealcoats.

Question 22

What are the application temperature and weather requirements?

Accepted Answer

Per the Technical Bulletin: apply only when ambient air temperature is ≥55°F and rising and surface temperature is ≥60°F. Do not apply if precipitation is forecast within the cure window. On hot days, fog-coat the surface to pre-dampen (not wet) before spraying. Always apply two coats — heavy-traffic lanes get a third. Cracks wider than 1/8" must be filled with hot-applied rubberized crack sealant first, dry to the touch, before sealcoat.

Question 23

How should Pitch Black® be stored and handled?

Accepted Answer

Store sealed containers above freezing — Pitch Black® is water-based and will be ruined by a single freeze cycle in the drum or tote. Keep containers tightly closed when not in use, out of direct sunlight, and away from ignition sources (it is non-flammable wet but burns slowly when fully dry). Standard PPE per the SDS: nitrile gloves, safety glasses, long sleeves. In case of skin contact, wash with soap and water before the emulsion dries. Do not take internally; keep out of reach of children. Shelf life is up to one year in an unopened container.

Question 24

What is the cure and return-to-service time?

Accepted Answer

At 70°F and 50% relative humidity, Pitch Black® dries in approximately 2–3 hours. Cure time depends on temperature, humidity, air movement, and film thickness. Foot traffic is fine after a few hours; vehicle traffic should stay off for a full 24 hours. Line striping with high-quality water-based traffic paint should be done only after the sealcoat has thoroughly dried.

Question 25

Where can I download the Pitch Black® Technical Bulletin and SDS?

Accepted Answer

All three documents are linked directly on this page under "Pitch Black® Product Documentation": the Technical Bulletin (concentrate), the Slurry-grade Technical Bulletin, and the Safety Data Sheet (SDS). They are also available on request from any Summit Surface Partners distributor.

Pitch Black®

Protecting Northwest Montana's Lakes & Watersheds

Built for Performance & Sustainability

Sustainability-First Protection

Documented Finish & Application

Built for Harsh Climates

Surface Protection Role

Safer by Design

Specification-Led Selection

Everything You Need to Know

Technical Data

Pitch Black® Product Documentation

Ideal Applications

Available In

Coal-Tar-Free Sealer Questions

Coal-tar-free sealcoating by city

Common Questions

Ready to Define the Right Scope?