If you’re like most business owners, you’re always looking for ways to save money and increase profits. One way to ace this is by taking care of minor repairs and maintenance tasks immediately before they balloon into something bigger.
Asphalt pavement lasts a long time, provided it receives prompt maintenance. This blog post by Doctor Asphalt LLC discusses tips on preparing your pavement for the crack filling process.
Any part of a property, if left unattended, will soon become overrun with weeds, grass, and other vegetation. The same goes for cracks in your pavement. Weeds and grass can quickly take root and grow, widening the gap and causing further damage.
It is essential to kill all vegetation in the cracks before beginning the repair process to prevent this from happening. You can quickly achieve this by using a weed killer or herbicide.
In addition to weeds, your pavement’s cracks might have dirt and debris like loose aggregate or small rocks. This needs to be removed before the crack filling process can begin.
Use high-pressure air to blow the dirt and debris out of the cracks. We recommend using a minimum of 90 PSI for effective crack cleaning. You can also grab a wire brush to remove any heavy debris.
This step is crucial as it decides if the adhesive will adequately adhere to the crack and prevent debris from entering the filler material.
Moisture in a crack can result from rain, snow, or groundwater. This needs to be eliminated before crack filling can take place. Otherwise, the dampness will interfere with the filler material and cause it to degrade. The best way to do this is to use a hot air lance.
You might not be able to see the moisture in the cracks, so the hot air lance will help remove it. If you’ve scheduled a night slot for your crack filling procedure, ensure that the crack is completely dry before applying the filler material. Any dew or moisture on the surface will freeze and expand. This can push the filler material out of the crack and create a bigger problem.
Crack filling is an asphalt maintenance procedure used to fill the cracks in asphalt pavements. It is a critical step in maintaining your pavement and should be done regularly.
Asphalt emulsion is poured into non-working cracks, or a crack less than 0.1 inches wide, to stop water from infiltrating the pavement. This process helps reinforce and extend the life of your pavement.
If you’re planning on filling cracks in your pavement, follow these tips from the professionals at Doctor Asphalt LLC. With several years of experience in St Paul, MN, we know a thing or two about asphalt maintenance!