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How to Patch Driveway Asphalt: 5 DIY Important Tips

Despite the fact that asphalt is a naturally rugged, long-lasting material, there will still come a day when your driveway begins to show its age. Given the conditions that most driveways find themselves under constantly, this should come as no surprise.

The good news is that this doesn’t mean you’re due for a total replacement – at least not yet. Patching and other forms of asphalt maintenance are very possible to do successfully on your own – you simply need to keep a few key things in mind to make sure the project goes properly.

Begin With an Inspection

By far, the most important thing to understand about DIY asphalt repair has to do with how you should always conduct a thorough inspection of your driveway or parking lot at the outset. This will help you put together a concrete (no pun intended) game plan moving forward.

Case in point: the size of the track. If the cracks that you’re dealing with are 0.5 inches in width or less, you can simply use crack filler and a caulking gun. If they are bigger than that, you’ll need to use something more extensive, like gravel. But you won’t know unless you examine the area first.

The Importance of Asphalt Maintenance Products

Next, you’ll want to make sure that you’re using the right asphalt maintenance products to begin with. Failure to do so could doom your project before it even has a chance to start.

You should make it a habit to visually inspect your driveway a few times a year, for example, and use crack filler as necessary. There may be long periods of time where you don’t have to, but it’s always best to check. At the very least, this allows you to stop a small problem now before it has a chance to become a much bigger one later on.

The Art of Proper Surface Preparation

It’s equally important to understand that you cannot simply “jump right in” to your DIY asphalt repair project. Proper surface preparation is one of the keys to success.

First, you’ll want to make sure that the entire area you’re working with is clean. You should also take care to remove any asphalt that has become loose. Note that this is true even if it requires you to make a slightly bigger hole in order to do so.

Make Sure Your Equipment is Ready

Finally, make sure that you have all the appropriate equipment ready before you start. This will make sure that you can fluidly move from one part of the process to the other without delay.

In addition to the tools outlined above, you’ll also need a tamping tool. You’ll use it two times – once immediately after the holes and/or cracks have been filled, and again when you’ve gone through the finishing process. This will help eliminate any air holes that may be present.

Contact the Professionals

Finally, while DIY asphalt repair is absolutely possible, you also need to understand that some situations may require you to call in professional asphalt companies to make sure everything gets done properly.

If you feel like the process is too big or too complicated to handle on your own, get recommendations from friends or family members that have worked with asphalt companies in the past. At the very least, you’ll likely save money over making mistakes and you’ll also likely end up saving a significant amount of time, too.

If you’d like to find out more information about DIY asphalt repair and what you should watch out for, or if you’d just like to talk about the specifics of your next big project with someone in a bit more detail, please don’t delay – contact us today.

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Pricing a Crack Sealing Job: What You Need to Know

One of the difficult things about pricing a crack sealing job is that no two projects are created in quite the same way. Sometimes, concrete repair can be done quickly. Other situations that go beyond normal “wear and tear” require a more extensive approach.

Regardless, so long as you break the process down into a series of smaller and more manageable steps, you’ll be able to come up with an accurate estimate in terms of the crack sealing cost to work from moving forward.

Surface Preparation for Concrete Companies

One of the most important things to understand about concrete repair is that it’s not something you can just hastily get started on. Preparing the surface is one of the keys to success and that process can take more time than people realize.

Naturally, the surface will need to be spotless before work can begin in earnest. If you’re working with a modestly-sized driveway, this will go faster than if you’re talking about a massive commercial parking lot with A) a lot of dust, dirt, and debris that need to be cleared, and B) countless large and small cracks.

The Amount of Crack Sealing Material You’re Going to Use

Next, you have to consider the amount of crack sealing material you’re going to use. This will typically be dictated by the size of the space you’re working with, as well as how extensive the cracks are that you’re working to repair.

If the job involves a very large, very old parking lot, you’re probably dealing with more extreme cracks. Because of that, you’ll use more asphalt crack filler than if you were performing routine maintenance on a more recent lot. The more material you use, the more expensive the job will be.

Manpower Cost

No discussion of anticipated crack sealing cost estimates would be complete without diving into one of the most important parts: manpower. Each person performing the work will need to be paid appropriately, and it should come as no surprise that a job that requires multiple people will naturally cost more than ones that will be completed alone.

Making sure that your people have access to the best equipment (like gas-powered crack cleaning machines, for example) will help them work more efficiently, which should cut down on a lot of the manpower requirements (and labor costs) as a result.

The Type of Material You Are Using

Finally, you need to carefully consider the type of material you’re using and how that will impact the overall cost of the project. Some types of premium materials are simply more expensive than others, even if you’re talking about the same quantity or volume.

When using asphalt seal coating, for example, there are multiple types to consider. You can choose between asphalt emulsion, coal tar emulsion, acrylic asphalt sealer, and gilsonite. Asphalt emulsion is typically on the more cost-effective side of the price scale. However, depending on the conditions of the job you find in front of you, it may be wise to invest in something on the pricier end.

Even the brand of a particular material and the store you choose to buy it from can impact how much you will pay, so be sure to take all of this into consideration and adjust your prices accordingly.

If you’d like to find out more information about the factors that impact crack sealing cost and how you should price each job, please don’t delay – contact us today.

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How to Prevent Potholes from Forming

Asphalt potholes are a hazard that you want to avoid whenever possible. Driving on potholes can lead to popped tires, and other damage to your vehicle. If you own a parking lot with potholes, people can get hurt if they don’t see a pothole while walking. Asphalt companies will encourage you to have potholes on your property fixed to avoid damage to vehicles or personal injuries. Preventing asphalt potholes from forming can keep your driveway or parking lot safe for use.

Clean the Driveway or Parking Lot Every Week

The best way to catch cracks or small potholes early is to have a weekly cleaning schedule for your driveway or parking lot. This can be done using a simple broom, hose, or blower. When you check your driveway weekly, and clean it off, you are going to notice any problems as soon as they begin.

Patch Any Cracks Immediately After Discovery

If you find a crack in your asphalt, this should be repaired right away. Asphalt companies are usually available quick to take care of small cracks you uncover during a routine cleaning. When you ignore a crack in your asphalt, the problem is only going to get worse over time. Water can get below the surface of your asphalt through a crack, and wreak havoc with your sub-structure below.

Invest in Asphalt Sealing Every Few Years

The asphalt on your driveway is going to fade over time. To keep the structural integrity of your asphalt intact, have the driveway sealed every two to three years. Asphalt companies will apply a thin layer of asphalt onto the existing surface, where it will then protect your driveway for a few years. Once the seal has worn off, you can apply another coat.

Remove Weeds From Your Driveway

Weeds can get into the cracks or crevices of your asphalt, and will continue to grow if you don’t remove them. As weeds grow, they are going to multiply. This will cause a crack to widen further, and eventually a pothole will form. If you find weeds in your driveway, take the time to remove them periodically. Use a spray to prevent weeds from growing in the cracks of your driveway if possible.

Clean Up Oil Stains Immediately

Oil should never be left to sit on your driveway, as this is going to destroy the asphalt. Oil spills are messy, and the oil is hazardous enough to cause damage to the asphalt. If the oil remains without getting cleaned up, you will eventually have cracks and potholes form because of the damage.

Improve the Drainage of Your Parking Lot or Driveway

If you have problems with puddles forming on your asphalt, this is going to lead to the formation of asphalt potholes. When there is a puddle, this means the water is not draining from your property adequately. Standing water breaks down the surface of your asphalt, leading to weak, cracked asphalt that starts to sink. 

Pay attention to any problems with your asphalt surface, and contact an asphalt company for crack repair and pothole filling if you need it. Take the time to clean your asphalt weekly, and deal with small repairs quickly to avoid a complete failure of your asphalt surface.

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5 Things You Need to Know About Alligator Cracking

Concrete cracking occurs for a number of reasons, and it’s important to take care of cracks to prolong the lifespan of your asphalt. Alligatored asphalt is a term used by concrete companies to identify cracks that look like alligator skin. The cracks can be small, and caused by too much traffic, heavy loads, or from temperature extremes. If you have problems with the structural integrity of your concrete, it’s time to learn more about solving the problem.

Alligator Cracking Is Common

One of the first things to understand about concrete cracking, is that alligator cracking is a common type of damage you will see with asphalt. It can occur no matter how old the concrete is, and will need to be repaired to prevent water from getting below the surface to cause further issues.

Heavy Loads are Only One Cause of Alligator Cracking

Too much weight on your driveway or parking lot is only one way that alligator cracking occurs. Excessive traffic on the concrete will eventually cause it to wear down and crack. An inadequate subgrade below the surface can lead to alligator cracking, because the concrete is not being properly supported during use.

It’s Expensive to Neglect Alligator Cracks

If you don’t take the time to repair small concrete cracking issues, it is going to get expensive to repair the problem over time. When you ignore alligator cracks in concrete, the integrity of the surface of your driveway or parking lot is ruined. This means water and other debris can get below the surface, degrading the supporting foundation. Cracks will start to get larger, and eventually you will need to replace the entire project.

You Can Clean Alligatored Concrete Easily

Understand that you don’t have to use a pressure washer in order to properly clean alligatored concrete. This surface can be cleaned with a regular hose, water, and stiff broom to remove dirt and debris. If you try to use a pressure washer on alligatored concrete, you could end up applying too much pressure and causing further damage to the concrete.

Summer is the Best Time to Repair Concrete

If you have alligatored asphalt on your property, summer is the best time to consider hiring concrete companies to take care of the work for you. The weather is nice, and you want to be sure that you have enough warmth for the asphalt to cure. When asphalt is laid in the warm weather months, it can be applied with the intent that it will shrink slightly when the cold weather hits. If you have noticed problems with alligator concrete cracking, summer is a great time to call for a repair.

When you take good care of your asphalt, it can last for many years without a problem. Pay attention to any small cracks, and get those filled in before they become too large to repair. Avoid heavy traffic on your concrete, and clean the surface periodically to remove any dirt, debris or chemical spills. When you take care of small repairs, your driveway is going to last longer. Good maintenance is less expensive than replacing the existing surface because of neglect.

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Highways Designed with Snow and Cold in Mind

One of the more critical things to consider when it comes to asphalt construction is also one of those things that most people just don’t spend too much time thinking about: the climate.

An asphalt highway in an area that is traditionally hot all year round like Texas may look the same as one that exists in Maine – at least on the surface. But the latter is located in a place that gets particularly cold winters and that is something that absolutely has to be taken into account. In fact, there are a number of important components to highways that are designed with snow and cold in mind that you should absolutely be aware of moving forward.

Temperature Extremes

One of the major ways that highways are designed with snow and cold in mind has to do with what happens to materials like asphalt during extreme changes in temperature.

Keep in mind that materials expand and contract as the weather changes around them and unless this is accounted for, it could result in significant cracking at best and a serious compromise to the integrity of the highway at worst. In Bangor, Maine, for example, the leverage low in January is just 7 degrees Fahrenheit. By April, the average high is 53 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s a significant difference and over time that could cause premature and long-term damage to the highway itself if it were not a factor in the design.

Drainage

Because asphalt is porous, it actually performs better than other types of materials in colder weather. However, this comes with a cost. Because the ice and snow melts faster, drainage has to be a top priority.

Thankfully, PVC drain piping (and a layer of gravel under the surface) go a long way towards accomplishing these goals. Not only does it help keep the highway safe, but it also reduces the overall amount of salt that needs to be used to treat the roads during the winter as well.

Fencing Around Asphalt

Snow fencing is another technique that is commonly used to preserve safety and performance for highways that are located in areas that get a lot of snow. Snow fencing can actually be put up as the colder weather approaches, and it’s a great way to prevent drifts from appearing on the road, thus putting drivers in a significant amount of harm during extreme storms.

Road Slope and Bridge Design

Finally, a lot of people don’t realize that even the pitch of the road is taken into consideration in areas that see a lot of ice and snow during the cold winter months. Highways in rural areas, for example, have a banked curve of no more than 5% to help prevent issues like sliding. Bridges on these highways are also constructed with a protective coating to help prevent premature corrosion due to the massive volumes of road salt that get used every year as the temperatures start to drop and ice builds up.

If you’d like to find out more information about the various factors that are considered when experts design an asphalt highway with snow and cold in mind, or if you’d just like to talk about the finer points of asphalt construction with someone in a bit more detail, please feel free to contact us today.