Repaving is only one aspect of asphalt upkeep and repair. Repaving should typically be your last option. You may do a variety of things—or avoid doing them—to increase the lifespan of your asphalt pavement. But the most important upkeep component is being proactive; you must keep your good pavement in good condition. This entails taking care of your pavement before any significant wear and tear occur.

5 Dos and Don’ts

Five DOs and DON’Ts for maintaining and repairing asphalt maintenance are listed below.

AVOID letting your asphalt oxidize

Oxidation happens when your asphalt is left unprotected and exposed to oxygen and UV radiation. The asphalt, formed of sand and particles, breaks down because the binder (or glue) holding it together degrades. Asphalt that has been oxidized also becomes more fragile and prone to cracking. You can tell when your asphalt is oxidized because it will be gray instead of the new asphalt’s dark black tint.

AVOID allowing sprinklers to spray water onto your driveway

Ensure that any sprinklers near your parking lot don’t spray water directly onto the asphalt. Water is one of the key reasons why pavement deteriorates. If water seeps into your pavement, it will soften the base course, resulting in depressions that will eventually become potholes (which will then allow even more water into your pavement).

AVOID placing large loads on your asphalt

Garbage trucks and other large vehicles place a tremendous amount of strain on your pavement. The stress of the large truck will only exacerbate any existing cracks or damage to the base course in your asphalt surface. If you must have large trucks on your asphalt maintenance, you might choose to add a concrete pad where they frequently travel.

DON’T disregard pavement upkeep

Minor problems with asphalt maintenance quickly grow into bigger ones. Asphalt will oxidize if it is not protected, which will cause cracks. Cracks allow water to enter your base course, and potholes and depressions in the pavement result in your basic course’s integrity being threatened. However, you may stop your asphalt from deteriorating to that degree if you take prompt action to fix cracks and other problems. Seal coating, crack filling, oil stain cleaning, pothole repair, and striping and marking are typical pavement care jobs.

Don’t select the offer with the lowest price

You can be obsessed with the lowest price when searching for a contractor to complete the task, whether it be seal coating, crack filling, pothole repair, etc. But it’s important to make sure you’re comparing apples to apples and not apples to oranges. Due to the possibility of varying task scopes, two bids may have distinct pricing ranges. To find out why to read our “DO.”

On to the “Do’s” now:

DO sweep the tarmac on your driveway at least once a year

Sweeping your asphalt will remove loose pebbles from the surface, enhancing the aesthetics. Additionally, it enables you to check your asphalt for cracks and depressions that can point to early pavement deterioration. The earlier you can take preventative measures like crack filling and seal coating, the sooner you can identify degradation indicators.

DO apply a sealant to your asphalt every three to five years

The surface of your asphalt is shielded from oxidation and water penetration by a sealcoat, which functions as a barrier. Like sunscreen, really. A sealcoat protects your asphalt surface in the same way that sunscreen protects your skin. A sealcoat must be reapplied, though, much like sunscreen! In most circumstances, you should be fine if you sealcoat your asphalt every three to five years. If your parking lot has heavy or continuous traffic, you might need to do it sooner.

DO fix cracks as soon as you can

Water can seep through cracks in your pavement, eroding your foundation course. If your base course fails, your pavement will develop more cracks, which can cause alligatoring and potholes. As a result, it’s crucial to stop water from entering spaces, and quickly patching fractures is essential.

Even if you’ve used a patching substance, DO plan to fix any potholes that you see

The majority of materials used to fix potholes are readily degraded. In these circumstances, you may have to return in a month or two to repair/repatch the same pothole. Even though our Instant Road Repair pothole filler gives you longer relief (about a year), you still need to fix the pothole in the end. A pothole develops when the base course is harmed; keep in mind. The base course is not repaired; the hole is filled to stop further water infiltration. When we say “repair” the pothole, we mean remove the damaged area, pour new asphalt, and then re-compact.

DO make the job scope clear when requesting quotes

You can receive two dramatically different quotes from two separate contractors if you inquire about pricing without providing a scope of the work. Contractor B may offer a price for crack filling, pothole repair, and seal coating. In contrast, Contractor A may only provide a price for seal coating. Of course, Contractor A will charge less, but Contractor B might offer a more thorough pavement upkeep plan.

You must take into account what needs to be done. You might need to repave some portions of your asphalt because they are severely damaged. While a third location might need cracks to be patched before seal coating, another region might only require a sealcoat. Due to numerous factors, assessing your asphalt pavement and developing a work scope before inviting bids is crucial.

We aid you in defining the work’s scope

For asphalt maintenance and repair projects, our professionals will work with you to understand the extent of the project, prepare the specifications for you, request bids, and assist your property management staff in evaluating the specs and bids if need be. Call us, and we’ll visit your site, and help you with next steps on your project, with our years of technical expertise in assisting clients like you.

Whether you are ready for a small or large project, you can always trust Jireh Construction to deliver the best results at the most affordable price. Call us today to learn more!

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