Asphalt Crack Sealer
No matter what kind of pavement is being used for your parking lot, road or driveway project, eventually it will start to fail. Because of the amount of traffic that these areas experience, the weight of vehicles will, inevitably, cause cracks to form and chipping to occur. And, because these surfaces are constantly exposed to moisture and sun, they are very susceptible to elemental damage. Water seepage and frozen water can cause paving to expand and contract, leading to major cracking and breaking of paving systems. When this happens, a great repair solution is crack sealing.
Why Seal Cracks Crack sealing is an option, for sure, but really, it’s a necessity. When cracks form in pavement, they begin to weaken the overall integrity of the paving system. Once a crack forms, it can start to splinter off in to other cracks that, if not properly treated, will cause the entire paving system to fail. Because of this, crack sealing is a great option. With this solution, a liquid sealant is applied to the crack, bonding the crack walls together, while enabling them to shift slightly, which enable the paving to settle further while reaming intact. When to Seal The obvious answer of when you should seal cracks is as soon as cracks appear. If you happen to notice cracks forming, you should give us a call right away so that we can seal your cracks in order to prevent further damage. However, because we know you may not have the time to look for cracks every day, you should, at least, inspect your paving every few months. After visually inspecting your paving, if you notice cracks forming, it’s time to let us seal them immediately. This will prolong your paving life and save you money in the long run. Crack Sealing Vs. Crack Filling Crack sealing and crack filling are often confused for one another, but they are completely different things. With crack filling, a solution is place inside the crack to, literally, fill it so that the fissure, created by the crack, virtually disappears. In crack sealing, a solution is applied within the crack that bonds the 2 walls of the crack together with a sturdy, yet flexible, hold. This is meant to allow for future movement of paving. Because of this, with crack sealing, further settling will not cause more cracking, which is a great thing. Type of Solution Used There are two, general types of crack sealant that we used. The first type is cold-applied crack sealant. With cold-applied crack sealant, sealant is applied directly from a bottle to the crack in your paving system. These crack seals work well and are cost effective, but they have a shorter life than the second type of sealant we offer. Hot-applied crack sealant is placed in your paving crack with industrial machinery that heats sealant while applying. This is a better option as the heat helps the sealant to bond and set better, leading to longer-lasting seals. |
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