The lifespan of your asphalt pavement is determined on your ability to detect and correct problems early on. Ignored faults erode the integrity of your asphalt pavement, and what was once quick, easy, and inexpensive to fix using crack seal or micro surfacing treatment becomes substantial, expensive labor now.
As soon as your asphalt pavement is set down, it begins to disintegrate. The sun’s UV rays, rain, ice, and snow, as well as the weight of cars driving and parking on it, wreak havoc on asphalt. Asphalt’s chemical bonds, which are critical to the pavement’s resilience, are broken down by exposure to the environment and wear and strain. With its strength, the color of fresh asphalt fades, and cracking begins, allowing moisture to permeate and inflict more damage.
Here are the top 5 ways to extend the life of your pavements from sweeping to microsurface treatment:
- Sweeping the asphalt driveway
Sweeping is the first step in preserving asphalt surface. Sweeping eliminates accumulated sand and grit on the surface. This grit will function as an abrasive if it is not removed. It will gradually erode the top layer of pavement or surface treatment, allowing water to enter the pavement structure. Each characteristic should be assessed separately. However, it is normally advised to sweep 2 to 6 times each year.
- Load management
Larger vehicles, such as garbage trucks and delivery trucks, should only enter your property if absolutely essential. These large vehicles carry a lot of weight and can quickly ruin your pavement. Limit their presence on your pavement, and you will reduce the amount of load it must bear. Moving your waste bins closer to the street allows garbage trucks to access them without having to drive over your pavement. This is a simple remedy that you can perform yourself.
- Repairing drainage issues
Water is the primary cause of pavement failure. If water is permitted to penetrate and damage the base course beneath your pavement, it won’t be long before you have to repair a freshly developed pothole. If you have a lot of standing water on your pavement, contact a contractor to see what you can do to remedy it. Installing a drain inlet or an under-drain might be the solution.
- Crack repair
Crack filling is required if your asphalt pavement already has cracks. Crack sealing is one of the most effective early preventative maintenance procedures for extending the life of asphalt. This is because water may enter these cracks at gallons per minute, washing away your investment. However if the damage is bigger than mere crack repair then it needs to be dealt with using micro surfacing treatment.
- Microsurfacing Treatment
Microsurfacing treatment using micro asphalt is a low-cost method of fortifying the road’s top layer. Any deficiencies are rectified and leveled to form a new stronger topping by adding a fresh level of fine aggregate and sealing it. The concept of microsurface treatment is based on the fact that by using this technique, the need for more intrusive repairs is eliminated. It can be used to patch potholes in isolated occurrences, or it can be sprayed to a whole street or stretch of road as a preventative precaution.