Asphalt Preventative Maintenance
Asphalt Paving Preventative Maintenance
Paving Preventative Maintenance Service in Kelowna, BC
Preventative maintenance is an ideal way of ensuring that your pavement and other asphalt surfaces last as long as possible. It is also crucial when it comes to maintaining the health of the cars, tires, and other devices moving along the surfaces. This is why many organizations and companies opt for preventative maintenance instead of sitting back and waiting for the damage to happen and correct the damages or wait for emergency maintenance.
What Does Paving Preventative Maintenance Entail?
Most of the parking lots, sports courts, pavements, and walkways are made of Asphalt. Other than that, it is also used in the construction of roads and highways. One thing to note about this material is that it is easily damaged by factors such as weather changes, making it deteriorate over time.
Paving preventative maintenance service is the reactive maintenance process employed way before a problem occurs. Advanced actions are taken so that the pavement can last longer and serve its purpose. Call Us Today!
Paving Preventative Maintenance Services Offered
Crack filling
It is common for surfaces to crack over time due to the constant use, especially if the surface has high traffic. To prevent the cracks from extending further and damaging the lot, it would be better to do the crack filling. If done correctly, the crack filling will reduce water infiltration into these cracks, protecting them from weakening by moisture. To do so, the blow-and-go method can be adopted. This is where the crack is first blown out and cleaned before crack filler material is added.
There are different types of cracks that you are supposed to look out for. They include alligator cracks (caused by repetitive traffic loadings), reflective cracks (occurs if an overlay was not done correctly and opens up on its joints), shrinkage cracks, and edge cracks (mostly happen due to poor shoulder support).
Crack sealing materials have to be god adhesives. They also have to be elastic but at the same time resistant to softening. Materials that can be used to fill these cracks include
• Asphalt emulsions
• Fiberized asphalt
• Asphalt cement
• Polymer-modified emulsions
The life expectancy after a crack filling process is at least two years. It helps the aggregate base and the surface in general from being weakened by materials entering through the cracks. It is also a cost-efficient approach instead of waiting for the expensive damage to occur.
For a longer-term result, the crack filling process can have an additional step, crack routing. The crack is further ground out to make it wider. This creates a reservoir where rubberized crack seal material is added, decreasing the chances of damage by thermal changes such as freeze-thaw cycles.
The time of the year that one decides to fill up cracks can determine the filling material's performance. Some cracks open and close depending on the season of the year. Therefore, the crack filling should be done for the best possible results when the fissures have opened with at least half of the usual size. This usually happens during spring or fall. During the summer, cracks are at their minimum length, whereas they open up to their maximum width during the winter. We can help repair the cracks on your paving, Call Us Today!
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Sealcoating
Sealcoating, an asphalt pavement entails adding an extra protective layer that protects the surface from damage and oxidation from substances such as oil, salt, U.V, and gas. Besides this, seal coating also entails weatherizing the surface, which minimizes the repairs that would have occurred if water or moisture got seeped through cracks. If this goes unattended, the pavement might start unraveling, leading to the formation of potholes. Besides the protective purposes, seal coating also gives the surface a slip-resistant, deep black surface that adds to the aesthetic value. Seal coats are made of bituminous-based products or acrylics in emulsion form. Below are some of the types of seals that can be used in different cases.
• Chip seal- This asphalt pavement sealant uses a mixture of hot mix asphalt and several aggregate layers.
• Slurry seal- this is a sealant made by mixing water, asphalt emulsion, aggregate, and several other additives.
• The fog seal- a slow-setting asphalt emulsion is diluted and applied on an oxidized pavement surface.
These products are further mixed with polymer additives and other fillers. The resulting mixture is then applied to the surface by brushing, spraying, or squeegee. If done correctly, this process will double the asphalt surfaces' life span, making it a cost-effective approach.
Surface Patch
Sometimes we fail to notice a small pavement problem until it worsens and develops into big potholes. However, even these potholes can be repaired before extending further and deteriorating into a much bigger problem. To repair this, several methods can be used. One of the most common ones is the Throw-and-Roll technique. This is a simple method where liquid asphalt is prepared, added to the hole, and rolled over. It is mostly used as a quick remedy when one requires emergency patching, especially during adverse weather conditions such as winter. However, even with all its efficiency, the method is not a long-lasting solution to the problem.
The ideal patching method is the semi-permanent pothole repair. After the pothole is cleaned of all debris, the pothole is squared to a much further depth. Tack coat is then applied on the base and sides of the hole before the patching material is added and overfilled to give room for compacting. Even though it is relatively time-consuming, it provides a longer-lasting solution. However, it requires more labor, special equipment and is a bit costlier.
Full Depth Repair
Full-depth repair is a rehabilitation technique used by pavement maintenance service providers to remove the distressed layer of asphalt. The removed asphalt is then blended with the already existing stone base to create a reusable base where new asphalt can be laid. The method is mostly used on private lots and roadways that do not have gutters or curbs.
The good thing about the full depth repair method is that no materials are disposed of; all of them are recycled. This reduces the amount of waste material that goes into landfills. Other advantages include low costs, expedited schedules, and other structural benefits.
Overlay
Asphalt overlay is a paving method where a new asphalt layer is prepared and applied over an old deteriorating surface. Instead of struggling to tear up the pre-existing asphalt layer, the overlay project will use this as the base for the incoming asphalt pavement surface.
It is important to note that not all surfaces are suitable for an overlay. If the pre-existing surface is severely damaged by potholes, extensive cracks, rutting, or expansions, it will require the contractor to rip it up and mill it. Moreover, the surfaces that are not draining water should also not be suitable for overlay before it is regraded. The few inches of thickness that an overlay adds to the pavement or parking lot adds strength to the surface while at the same time improving its curb appeal. It is a perfect option for pavements aged eight to twelve years old.
Paving preventative maintenance services are crucial if you want to maximize the service life of any asphalt service. Therefore, decide on one of the maintenance options, and you are assured of high-quality surfaces for a long time. Learn more
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