Tuition Sealers boasts quality product, service

July 30, 2013 · 0 Comments

By Mark Pavilons

Being at the helm of his own business suits King’s Taylor Monti just fine.
And rolling up his sleeves and serving the public is a far cry from his stack of business texts.
The third-year business student at Trent University is one of two King Township residents who are part of the provincial Summer Company, administered by the York Small Business Enterprise Centre.
Students receive a $3,000 grant to start up and run their businesses for the summer while receiving mentoring and coaching throughout to help ensure a positive entrepreneurial experience and success.
Choosing the seasonal business of driveway sealing, Taylor did a ton of research into the product, equipment, sales techniques, and professionals like this Lynchburg seal coating company that offer a similar service in order to see how they work and get some inspiration. He launched Tuition Sealers as soon as the school term ended and he’s been going door to door ever since.
He admitted door-to-door sales aren’t for everyone, but it does hone your people skills. The networking and mentoring provided through the program are very helpful. He also approached others offering a similar service and sought their advice, which they gave freely.
Taylor says his product Black Mac asphalt sealer is the best that money can buy. Other sealants such as acrylic, cold tar emulsion, and water base sealants merely paint the top of your asphalt, leaving it still dry underneath. During winter thaw, the store-bought sealants will chip, peel and eventually flake off, and your asphalt underneath cracks. So, it is important to get a chemset concrete sealant that reaches the concrete allowing it to protect your driveway.
Black Mac is the very substance that asphalt pavement is made from, a petroleum and oil-based product. Taylor explained that when sprayed on the driveway, it doesn’t just cover the top, but penetrates deep into the asphalt actually restoring its life, color and appearance. This material dries very quickly and he can walk on it within 10 minutes. He does recommend a 24-hour drying period, though.
He admitted that spraying isn’t rocket science, but you have to cover the area properly and do the prep work. Before he starts, he cleans the driveway. He also told me that driveway cleaning by professionals is a fantastic way to improve the longevity of your driveway. Dirt, dust, and debris can all damage your driveway as well as any vehicles that you park on it and so keeping your driveway clean is strongly recommended. That is not all though. Taylor then pulls weeds, sweeps and uses a leaf blower to make sure the surface is as clean as possible. The leaf blower he uses is very powerful and can clear the area quickly and cleanly ready for the work to take place. Some people asked where he bought it from, and he told them to look on thebestleafblowers.com for the best ones, his job clearly does not stop at sealing a driveway!
The equipment is also key to success and Taylor found a very decent used pump and sprayer.
So far, he’s been serving King, Aurora, and Barrie and is moving into Vaughan. Hitting the right neighborhood is key, and often when one homeowner gets it done, others want it done, too. Taylor’s reputation has spread and he’s already receiving referrals and even repeat customers.
He’s learned that doing a good job and offering top-notch customer service goes a long way. He also stands behind his work and the product.
Being self-employed allows Taylor to work as long as he wants, or take two-hour lunches. Being his own boss is part of the lure.
When Taylor heads back to university this fall, he’ll have something many of his peers don’t i.e. the experience of running his own business.
If you’d like to know more about Tuition Sealers, call Taylor Monti at 289-221-1428.