Potholes, Crack Fillings, and Patches: Which one is right for your business?
Asphalt is a great material for your residential driveway and commercial parking lot of your business. But, like any material, it will wear out over time. Sunlight, heavy traffic, rain, freezing temperatures, settling—there are numerous factors that can contribute to the degradation of your asphalt. Cracks are inevitable, and if left long enough, cracks can become potholes.
Crack fillings and asphalt patching offer effective solutions to fix the damage. But how do these fixes work, and when do you need to have them done? Read on to learn about asphalt repair to determine which is right for your business.
ASPHALT DAMAGE IS FRUSTRATING
Discovering damage to your driveway or parking lot is a common occurrence. You might have noticed a crack or two a while back. Over time the cracks widened. Then all the sudden—and it can seem quite sudden—you find a pothole. The last thing you want is for a customer to get hurt or a vehicle to get damaged because of the pothole, so you start looking for repair options.
Dealing with damaged asphalt can be a hassle. But know that you are not alone. This happens to most business owners eventually. Fortunately, crack repair and pothole repair are effective and relatively quick when done by a professional. Soon you can have your surface back in good working order. And, if you learn how to properly maintain your asphalt, you can do a lot to avoid a similar situation in the future.
HOW DAMAGE OCCURS
There are multiple reasons why asphalt can sustain damage, leading to cracking and potholes. Surfaces that experience significant problems, like crocodile cracking, were most likely installed incorrectly. Correct installation requires experience and engineering skills that not everyone has. The underlying surface, traffic volume, load bearing and climate must all be accounted for.
Even the most perfectly engineered asphalt surface will crack eventually, though. UV rays cause the elastic component of asphalt to degrade. When cracks open up, water is able to penetrate under the surface. Water can freeze/thaw, expanding and widening the crack. Even without freezing, it can disturb the substrate and cause a loss of support under the asphalt surface. The loss of support can lead to slumping and potholes.
PREVENTING DAMAGE
There are a few steps you can take to prevent and minimize damage:
Fill cracks immediately. The sooner you fill the cracks, the less time there will be for water to penetrate.
Have damage repaired by professionals? You need a repair that will last, which means you need a professional to do the work.
Sealcoat the surface. Sealcoating adds an extra layer of protection to keep out sunlight and water.
REPAIR OPTIONS—CRACK FILLING AND PATCHES
CRACK FILLING
Filling cracks is a major step in prolonging the life of your driveway or parking lot. Don’t wait. When you see a crack, have it filled quickly so it is less likely to spread and cause more damage.
The process of filling a crack is pretty straightforward. The crack needs to be cleaned of any debris, then ground out to create space for the filler to be installed. The material used to fill the crack may vary depending on the climate and other conditions, which is why it is best to consult a professional instead of going full DIY.
PATCHES
Crack filling is technically considered a type of patching, but when most people think of patching they think of patching potholes. The patching process involves cleaning out the hole and may require that the hole is cut out to access the substrate. By initially creating a bigger hole, repairs can be made to the area underneath before the patch is applied.
WHAT REPAIR SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?
At Roadbuilders, we offer the professional expertise you need to repair your asphalt anywhere in Nashville and the surrounding areas. Please contact us today to discuss your driveway and/or parking lot repairs. Our team is standing by to assist you!