Asphalt Maintenance Practices That Extend The Life Of Your Pavement

The foundation of good asphalt care is regular maintenance. If you know appropriate asphalt maintenance practices, it guarantees the longevity, strength, and quality of asphalt pavements. You know too well that the elements are the leading cause of asphalt driveway degradation. But there are specific steps you can carry out regularly to safeguard your investment. 

If you engage professional contractors, they install the right driveway foundation, pour quality asphalt mix, and deliver quality workmanship. As time goes, you'll need to repair potholes, fill cracks, and seal coat your driveway. The following maintenance steps come in handy when you want to extend the life of your driveway or pavements. 

Sweep Your Asphalt Pavement Regularly 

Did you know that sweeping the asphalt surface does more than improve its appearance? With a brush, sweeping debris and loose grit reveals the actual status of the asphalt. It helps you to detect faults, cracks, or depressions that could cause bigger problems. 

A clear asphalt surface shows early signs of depreciation, voids, or fissures that could turn into ugly alligator cracks. When you notice these signs, you must call asphalt paving repair technicians. This is a preventative maintenance move that helps you to repair and fill cracks before it's too late. 

Sealcoat Asphalt Every Three to Five Years 

A freshly paved driveway starts to depreciate as soon as it handles traffic. With time, water and UV rays can cause serious damage and fading. To prevent such, you should consider seal coating the pavement once every three or five years. The sealcoat acts as a hardy sunscreen on the surface. It needs re-applying as the sun gets hotter. 

This emulsion-like coat prevents water from penetrating and eliminates asphalt oxidation. You should consult a skilled asphalt maintenance professional to advise you on the ideal intervals to sealcoat. 

Fill Cracks Quickly 

If you notice a few cracks forming on your asphalt driveway, you should think about their effect on the surface and the base. If water seeps into the base layer, it triggers internal damage, and you could be looking at a costly asphalt repair in no time. Luckily, you can stop this by filling every crack as soon as it appears. You don't have to do it daily but knowing the right time to fill the cracks prevents extensive damage to your pavements.

Control Vehicle Loads 

It might sound absurd, but putting in place measures to control vehicle loads will save your driveway. For instance, if dumpsters are always needed at your facility, you can standardize the tonnage. Equally, you can designate a concrete pad near your entrance to limit the damage on the rest of the driveway or parking lot.

For more information, contact a company like W.N. Yoss Construction Inc.

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