Over time, asphalt pavement begins to deteriorate. In fact, it begins to deteriorate the moment it is first laid. Constant exposure to the elements – sunlight, rain, sleet, and snow – along with normal wear and tear can slowly (and sometimes not very slowly) cause asphalt pavement to break down, resulting in cracking, potholes, or worse. The good news: with proper maintenance, your parking lot or other asphalt surface can last 15 to 18 years or even more.
Baltimore is in for a Harsh Winter
According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, “winter will be colder and snowier than normal” here in Baltimore. The coldest periods in the area will occur in “mid-January, with cold weather also occurring in late December, most of January, mid-February, and early March,” with the snowiest periods in “mid- and late December, early to mid-January, and late March.”
“Any time you have weather where it is 60 degrees one day and 20 degrees the next, you’re going to have a significant impact on the pavement,” warns Rob Morosi, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Transportation.
Freeze-thaw damage occurs when water seeps into small cracks in the pavement, freezes, and expands. Over the course of an entire winter, this can happen several times, causing small asphalt cracks to become large potholes. Combatting this brings us to our first asphalt maintenance task.
Crack Sealing
Crack sealing prevents water and other materials from seeping into cracks, freezing, and expanding. This simple maintenance step can greatly extend the life of your parking lot. The process involves blowing out, cleaning, and then refilling cracks with one of a wide variety of emulsions, cements, or asphalt-variants which prevents water intrusion.
Asphalt Patching
Potholes are not just eyesores. They are a sign of underlying pavement issues. And if not addressed in a timely manner, these issues could worsen, especially with cold weather on the horizon. There are two distinct ways to fix potholes. First is Cold Patch, which is a temporary fix. The next is Hot Mix, which is a more permanent fix. Click Here to learn more.
Sealcoating
Sealcoating helps protect your pavement from the elements while also giving it a fresh new look and feel. When left untreated, asphalt will deteriorate rapidly. The asphalt binder that holds the pavement together begins to oxidize and weather soon after installation. Moisture penetrates the asphalt causing further damage and deterioration to the pavement. Eventually, your once beautiful parking lot will need to be replaced. Sealcoat helps prolong your pavement.
“The best time to sealcoat is from daylight savings time to daylight savings time,” explains Patrick Gillen, owner of Baltimore-based PTG Enterprises, a full service commercial asphalt contractor.
Baltimore Asphalt Maintenance Services
The asphalt paving experts at PTG Enterprises have managed hundreds of projects throughout Baltimore, Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia pavement projects and have the experience you need. You can expect a fair proposal, professionalism, and quality work. A good contractor is hard to find!
Request a FREE Proposal
“Give me the opportunity to impress you,” says Gillen. “I can be your one stop ‘Pavement Guy,’ for any pavement project regardless of size or scope.”
If you have any questions about Asphalt Maintenance, please contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777! When you hire PTG, you’ll work with owner Patrick Gillen from start to finish, from the initial site visit and pre-construction meeting to the final walk-through.
Tags: Asphalt Maintenance, Baltimore, Winter
