When your asphalt surface starts showing signs of damage, it’s time to call a paving contractor adelaide. Early repairs can prevent further damage and save you money down the road.
There are many types to choose from depending upon the condition of your pavement. These include patching, repaving, and reclamation.
1. Sealcoating
Sealcoating is a type of paving repair that is used to protect asphalt surfaces from water and other elements. This process can also add an aesthetic appeal to the paved surface and help it last longer.
The process of sealcoating an asphalt parking lot or driveway is essential for the long-term integrity of these surfaces. The sealcoating process is essential to protect asphalt driveways and parking lots from damage by rain, snow, UV rays, oil leaks, and vehicle fluids.
During the sealcoating process, a special liquid coating is applied over the paved surface. As the coat dries, it hardens to form a protective barrier that blocks out water, chemicals, and other substances.
This coating helps to prevent cracks from paving surfaces. It reduces friction and improves traction for vehicles on the pavement.
Sealcoating is one of the most cost-effective ways to extend the life of your asphalt paving. It saves you money by protecting your paved surfaces for pennies per square foot, compared to the thousands of dollars it would cost to replace them.
A regular schedule of sealcoating is recommended for asphalt parking lots and driveways to more than double the lifespan of your paved surfaces. This will save you money in the long run, and will keep your property looking its best.
It is important to thoroughly clean any dirt or debris before applying a sealcoat to asphalt pavement. This will ensure that the sealcoat adheres to the asphalt and does not absorb into the asphalt.
After cleaning, the asphalt paved surface should be assessed for any cracks or other signs of deterioration that require immediate repairing. A professional contractor can do this for you to ensure that any cracks or other damage are fixed before the asphalt is sealed.
Once the paved surface has been properly prepared, it is then primed with a mixture of polymer additives and solids. The primer is then applied over the paved surface using a squeegee or spray.
Then, the paved surface is fully sealed with a high-quality emulsion, containing bituminous products or acrylics. This emulsion is then blended with water and other components to form a sealcoat that will last for many years.
2. Repairing Cracks
Repairing cracks in pavement is a vital part of any asphalt maintenance operation. This is because cracks can cause water to penetrate the base and subbase of an asphalt surface, weakening them and eventually causing the asphalt to fail.
It is generally more economical to seal cracked asphalt than to remove the entire section of pavement and replace it. Sealing the cracks helps to prevent water from seeping through them and damaging the asphalt.
For this reason, property managers should commit to regular inspections and refilling any cracks before they deteriorate into a bigger problem. Educating customers about how and why cracks occur is also key to successful pavement maintenance.
The types of cracks that appear in a paving surface vary by location and climate. Transverse cracks, for example, run perpendicular to the centerline or laydown direction of the pavement. This type of crack is most common when the asphalt shifts in temperature.
Longitudinal cracks, on the other hand, are parallel to the centerline or laydown direction of a paved surface and appear later than transverse cracks. This is because asphalt expands and contracts at different temperatures. Look out for landscaping adelaide south.
It can take a lot of time to chisel out large concrete cracks. This job is best done with a hammer or a cold chisel.
Next, clean the crack with a brush or wire brush. This will ensure that the repair material has a proper surface to adhere to.
Mix a vinyl-reinforced, patching material until it is slightly thicker that a standard crack filler. Use a handheld tamper with metal heads that can be rented from tool rental shops to compact the patch material in the crack.
Let the patching cure for at least 24 to 48 hours before you drive over it. This will prevent any tracking and keep the patch from getting tacky.
After the patching is complete, seal the crack with a sealant that has been formulated to suit your specific environment and the type of filler you used. This will keep the filler from coming off the crack and allowing water to penetrate the surface of the asphalt.
3. Repairing Edge Cracks
Poor drainage and/or heavy vegetation can cause cracks in asphalt pavements. This can cause soil drying and shrinking which eventually weakens asphalt’s underlying layer, leading to edge cracks.
These cracks should be repaired to prevent further deterioration of the asphalt surface. They can be filled with asphalt crack seal or asphalt emulsion. To ensure that the structural support can withstand traffic, the paving contractor will need to rebuild the asphalt area at its full width.
Patching is another type of paving repair. This is an inexpensive and common repair option that will prevent further asphalt surface damage. This involves pouring a small amount the appropriate patching compound into cracks and then applying the tamper pressed compound in a level manner until the compound is firmly bonded with the asphalt.
Although this process will need to be repeated multiple times over a few weeks, it can save you time and money in the long-term. The patches will help to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of future cracks, and they will prevent water and ice from entering the asphalt.
This type of damage can be fixed by a paving contractor. They will fill the cracks with the appropriate compound and apply it in a level manner until it is firmly bonded on the asphalt. They should also apply a fresh layer of sealcoating to the entire area as this will help to protect the asphalt from future problems.
Generally, it is recommended to repair this kind of crack when the cracks are less than one-half inch wide and the gap between the cracks is less than a quarter inch. This is because the gap between the cracks can allow further moisture into the subgrade, which will cause more damage to the asphalt surface and lead to deterioration over time.
The cracks should be prepared by the paving contractor. This includes removing any vegetation, debris and aggregates and siphoning or draining any water. They should also make sure to thoroughly dry the cracks before filling them.
4. Repairing Structural Cracks
One of the most popular types of paving repairs is to repair structural cracks. It involves repairing long cracks that penetrate the surface of the pavement layer and can extend down to the base materials below the asphalt layer.
There are many factors that can cause this type of cracking. These include expansion and contraction of the subgrade, overlay, or base.
These issues can cause a large number of cracks to develop and can be a major cause of problems with the pavement. As a result, these cracks should be repaired before they get any larger.
Ground settling is another common problem in paving. This occurs when a void is created in the ground beneath a concrete slab and can be a cause for serious cracking.
This type of crack can be repaired by cutting the crack sides with a masonry saw to create an inverted V shape. This will help the patch material to “key” into the crack, creating a mechanical bond.
Once the sides of the crack have been shaped, a finishing trowel can be used to put a neat edge along the side of the repair. A brush can then be used to smooth and blend the patch material into the existing concrete surface.
The next step is to apply a thin coat of hot-applied rubberized joint sealant that exceeds Federal specifications. After this is applied, a light aggregate material is added to improve adhesion.
The process takes approximately four hours, but it can take longer depending on how large the area being repaired. To ensure that the repair is done correctly, it is important to inspect the surface after it has dried.
Finally, some repairs require the use of an epoxy resin that is injected into the crack to restore the strength of the pavement. It can also be used to reduce the amount of water that penetrates the crack and prevent future leaks.
This is a relatively simple process but may not be suitable for all types of cracks. For example, structural cracks that have previously moved or are likely to move in the future will not be good candidates for this repair. This applies to structural cracks caused by design, detailing, or construction errors.
