Learn what causes asphalt cracks and the steps you can take to repair your asphalt pavement.
Commercial asphalt parking lots are especially vulnerable to developing cracks during cold weather seasons. These cracks develop from the excess water vapor in the air, as well as snow, ice, and rain that frequently fall during late autumn and winter. However, if asphalt cracks develop, there are some solutions that PTG Enterprises is eager to provide to retain the integrity of your asphalt pavement. Read on to learn the specific asphalt repair jobs required to fix those pesky asphalt cracks.
Why Asphalt Cracks Develop
Water and moisture are critical factors in damaging asphalt. When asphalt comes into contact with water or moisture, the durability and strength of the asphalt start to decrease. This is bad news for any commercial driveways or parking lots that see a lot of vehicle and foot traffic year-round.
What happens is that the moisture in the asphalt destroys the bonding of the material used in the creation of asphalt pavement. When that bonding is weakened, that is when deterioration and damage begin to show. This damage includes cracking, which can become dangerous to vehicles and pedestrians as well as allow more moisture and damage to enter the asphalt. If cracks go unattended, the entire pavement lot could need a full repair.
How to Repair Asphalt Cracks
When you see cracks in your asphalt pavement appear, you should call for professional help as soon as possible. Filling “small” cracks may seem tedious at first, or like a task that can wait, but if you put off repairing the small cracks, they will soon become more substantial and much more damaging.
When a crack develops in asphalt, it enables surrounding water to absorb into the surface of the asphalt. This happens every time there is moisture, so if you have a rainy day, snowfall, or even ice that melts down, your asphalt cracks will allow your pavement to absorb all of that moisture. That moisture, as noted above, is what will break down the material of your pavement.
Seal Coating
One way to prevent cracks from forming is seal coating the pavement. Calling a professional service to seal coat your asphalt before the cold wintertime weather arrives can help prevent future asphalt repairs.
Crack Sealing
If you don’t seal coat, or you already have cracks in your asphalt, you can call for crack sealing. This fills and repairs the cracks directly to prevent them from growing larger and absorbing more moisture.
Maintenance You Can Trust from PTG Enterprises
If you want to protect your pavement and ensure it has a long lifespan, choose PTG Enterprises for your community sidewalks, parking lots and pavement maintenance needs. We offer commercial concrete, asphalt, masonry, paving, consultation, and survey report services throughout Baltimore, Harford, Anne Arundel, Howard, and P.G. Counties. If you are interested in hearing how we can help you, contact us online or give us a call at (410) 636-8777. For more tips and tricks, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Flickr.
Tags: Asphalt cracks, Asphalt Pavement, Asphalt repair, Crack sealing
