The lifespan of asphalt is about 20-30 years. While it’s usually durable and can tolerate heavy use, many factors can lead to asphalt’s deterioration, including exposure to harmful elements like water, chemical spills, UV radiation, and even oxygen.
Even a minor crack can cause extensive damage and costly repairs when left unchecked.
This article will discuss caring for asphalt and maximizing its potential correctly.
Conduct Routine Cleaning
Regular cleaning can improve the general health of asphalt surfaces. By removing trash, debris, leaves, snow, and ice, you can identify areas needing maintenance and tackle these projects at a lower cost.
Additionally, debris and other materials left on asphalt’s surface can interfere with how water flows off of it. This causes water to collect, which causes crumbling, potholes, and cracks.
Immediately Fill Cracks
Small cracks in your asphalt may not look very serious. However, they can allow harmful elements to seep through the asphalt base. Water or chemical leaks through it can oxidize and cause more extensive fractures or potholes, resulting in severe damages and expensive Asphalt Paving Repairs.
To prevent this, look for tiny cracks and ensure they are filled immediately.
Apply Seal Coating
Residential Asphalt Sealcoating protects your driveway from water damage, chemical spills, oil spills, and UV rays. The aggregate in the asphalt will be preserved, and small holes and cracks will be filled in.
Moreover, seal coating, with its rich black color, gives the pavement a brand-new appearance. A smooth, freshly seal-coated area is much easier to clean than a worn-down, rusted pavement surface.
How often your pavement needs a seal coat depends on the weather, the amount of use, and the degree of maintenance. However, you should seal coat your asphalt pavement once every 2.5 years to keep it in good shape.
However, always make a seal coat after all other essential repairs. Sealing over degraded and damaged asphalt pavement may not be beneficial in the long run.
Repair Damages Immediately
If your asphalt’s damages are too severe to be fixed by filling or seal coating, it’s time to have an expert asphalt contractor repair it. From cracks and potholes to rutting and raveling, these problems are vital to address to prevent the complete deterioration of your driveway.
If your asphalt is installed correctly, you’ll be less likely to have these issues. However, if you’re already in this position, it’s time to address the problem by hiring highly trained professionals who use advanced tools and equipment.
Proper Drainage
Adequate pavement drainage is critical for avoiding water-related issues and extending the life of asphalt surfaces. Also, guarantee that your pavement has an elegant drainage system to divert water from the surface.
Drainage Solutions:
Sloping:Â To enable water runoff, ensure the pavement surface slopes away from the centerline and toward the edges.
Curbs and Gutters: Install curbs and gutters to gather and direct water to proper drainage outlets.
Catch Basins: Catch basins collect and direct water away from pavement.
Plan for Resurfacing
Despite your best efforts, there comes a time when asphalt reaches the end of its lifespan, and you must replace it. If you find any cracks, a faded appearance, or other indications of wear, it may be time for resurfacing. Resurfacing is putting down a fresh layer of asphalt to revitalize the look and functionality of your pavement.
