Asphalt Crack Sealing

Unfortunately, no asphalt surface is immune to cracking. If the cracks are not repaired, water will seep into the seams and damage the foundation or freeze it, worsening the problem. Dominic’s Paving can help mitigate the problem by fixing and sealing the cracks. This will help to prolong the life of the asphalt and save you money.

Fortunately, we have a team of professionals who can help with crack sealing. Contact us today at (301) 916-8770 to schedule a consultation and get a free estimate.

What is Asphalt Crack Sealing?

Asphalt crack sealing is the process of adding an adhesive sealant to a crack on the asphalt surface to prevent the entry of moisture, dirt, debris, and other non-compressible material.

It’s an efficient and cost-effective method of protecting asphalt from damage and extending its lifespan by three to five years. When a detacking agent is applied, a crack-sealed surface can be used immediately.

Why Asphalt Cracks Form

Asphalt cracks are caused by the force exerted by vehicles’ braking and turning motion. They can also result from instability in the asphalt mix or a weakness in the subgrade layers. Distress on the sub-layers can include swelling, depression, shoving, and rutting.

Other reasons cracks in asphalt pavements form include:

Standard Aging

Regardless of how well you take care of the asphalt paving and how many topcoat layers you add, the asphalt bond will wear off with time. When this happens, the pavement will develop surface cracks.

Freeze-thaw Cycle

Winter weather can damage asphalt. When it’s cold, the asphalt materials contract, and when snow falls and later melts, water seeps into the asphalt materials and causes cracks. This is an unending cycle that damages the asphalt.

Hot Summer

Like the cold, extreme heat damages asphalt paving, resulting in cracks. The heat causes the asphalt to expand, causing pressure that leads to cracks. When rain falls, water seeps through the cracks.

Shrubs and Trees

Vegetation can damage asphalt paving through its roots and weeds growing under the paving. While this risk is always present, it can be reduced by planting shrubs and trees a safe distance from your asphalt paving.

When Is the Best Time to Fix Asphalt Cracks?

The best time to fix asphalt cracks is in the fall and spring when the weather is favorable. This is usually when the temperatures are between 40 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

This temperature range helps the crack filler to stick correctly to the pavement and cure. The seal then covers the filled crack, creating a tight seal.

What Is the Difference Between Crack Filling and Crack Sealing?

Crack filling is ideal for non-working cracks in areas that do not receive a lot of traffic. On the other hand, crack sealing is perfect for mending cracks that are half an inch to two inches wide.

While both crack sealants and crack fillers prevent water from seeping into the cracks, crack sealant can move vertically and horizontally with the pavement as it contracts and expands, but crack fillers cannot. When the asphalt pavement expands, the filler gets separated from the cracked wall edges, allowing water to seep through.

Also, crack sealants are made to remain stable at high and low temperatures, while crack fillers aren’t. With these differences, you should use sealant to prevent infiltration and filler to reduce infiltration.

 

Process of Asphalt Crack Sealing

Asphalt crack sealing is a crucial maintenance task to prolong the lifespan and integrity of asphalt surfaces. The process our team follows involves several multiple steps. These steps generally include:

  • Preparation: Before sealing cracks, we must clean the asphalt surface thoroughly to remove debris, vegetation, and loose particles and ensure proper sealant adhesion.
  • Routing: It may be done for larger cracks or those with significant depth. This involves creating a channel along the crack to enhance the sealant’s ability to fill and adhere to the crack walls.
  • Crack sealing material selection: It is essential we choose a suitable crack sealing material. Typically, a hot-applied rubberized crack sealant is used because it adheres well to the asphalt and remains flexible to accommodate seasonal temperature changes.
  • Application of sealant: We heat the sealant to the appropriate temperature and apply it to the cracks using specialized equipment. This ensures that the sealant fills the entire crack and creates a waterproof barrier.
  • Leveling and smoothing: After application, we smooth out the excess sealant to ensure a flush finish with the asphalt pavement surface. This step helps maintain the sealant’s aesthetic appearance and ensures its effective performance.
  • Curing time: The sealant requires adequate time to cure and achieve optimal performance. Curing times may vary depending on environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity.
  • Final inspection: Once the sealant has cured, we perform a final inspection to ensure all cracks are properly sealed and the asphalt surface is protected.
  • Maintenance considerations: We recommend regular inspection and maintenance to identify new cracks or areas that may require re-sealing to prevent further deterioration.

By following these steps, asphalt crack sealing helps extend the life of asphalt surfaces, prevent water penetration, and reduce the need for more costly repairs in the future.

Get Professional Help
Paving – Dominic's Paving

It’s up to you to understand the rules of the HOA and to ensure your project is legal in your residential community. You can determine this by consulting with the HOA leaders in your community. They’ll provide you with the information you need and even show you the charters and bylaws that govern the community.
Once you have all the information you need, contact Dominic’s Paving at (301) 916-8770 for a consultation and a free estimate.

Get Professional Help
Paving – Dominic's Paving

While it may be tempting to DIY asphalt crack sealing, the process requires skill, experience, and sophisticated equipment and safety gear.

Our team at Dominic’s Paving has what it takes to pull it off. Contact us today at (301) 916-8770 for a consultation and free estimate.

Scroll to Top