Asphalt can last for decades. It comes out smooth, and it’s skid resistant, but to keep it’s longevity, it needs to be maintained. Over time, cracks can form in your asphalt driveway or parking lot. Whether you want to patch up some spots on your driveway, or if you need to maintenance your parking lot, it’s important to know your options.
Instead of replacing or repairing damaged asphalt, regular sealcoat applications and minor crack filling repairs can save you money in the long-run. You’ll even be able to avoid major issues such as “alligator cracking” or potholes.
This blog post will help you figure out when you should use crack filling or seal coating on your asphalt. Read on to find out more.
Why Use Crack Filling?
“Cracking” in reference to asphalt is when a separation occurs, most likely due to excessive weight, heat, or age. Instead of repaving the entire driveway or parking lot, you can utilize crack filling. Crack filling is the placement of asphalt emulsion into non-working cracks to reduce water infiltration and to reinforce the adjacent pavement. The tar fills and seals the crack, helping prevent further damage.
By filling in the cracks, you’ll provide a barrier protection with thick, rubberized tar injected along the cracks in your driveway or parking lot. Cracking filling is done on all types of surfaces. Proper maintenance will extend the lifespan of your asphalt surface and help save you money along the way. Crack filling can also prevent water from getting into the asphalt which can expand the lifetime of your driveway or road for three to five years.
Why Use Sealcoating?
There are many reasons to use sealcoating for driveways and parking lots. After a duration of time, the deteriorating effects of sun exposure and the obvious wear and tear from use will start to affect the lifespan of your asphalt.
To help combat these issues without replacing your entire slab of asphalt, you can use sealcoating. This is the process of creating a protective coating that gets sprayed and spread over your driveway to help extend the life of the surface asphalt and prevent any water exposure.
Sealcoating can be applied to recently paved asphalt surfaces, or older asphalt surfaces. Overall, sealcoating will make sure that your asphalt can endure the temperature changes and impacts of heavy loads over time. It can also reduce friction or anti-skid. An extra benefit of sealcoating also comes from covering up existing problem areas. If there are any holes or voids from the initial paving project, sealcoating will help keep the area more durable. It can also defend off harmful substances that can leak from vehicles over a period of time.
Crack Filling or Sealcoating?
Crack filling and sealcoating are affordable ways to maintain your asphalt pavement. The objective of both techniques is to prevent water from further damaging roads. Ultimately, the choice is up to you. Both are cost effective ways to get the most out of your pavement’s lifespan by delaying the expense of major reconstructive pavement work.
Here at Greenway Industries, you can trust us to get the job done at a reasonable price. We are a fast and reliable paving company that keep your interests in mind and cares about the long term success of your driveway or parking lot.
If you are interested in getting started with your next paving project, the experienced professionals at Greenway Industries are ready to make your visions come true. Call us at 203-885-1037 and we can guarantee that you’ll love your next paving project.