Our Top Asphalt Protection Techniques
If you want your asphalt surface to last a long time, it’s important to keep up with proper maintenance and repairs. However, these aren’t the only ways to protect your asphalt. There are plenty of excellent sealant options available that do a great job of preserving asphalt. You could also treat your asphalt with micro-surfacing and slurry seals. Read on for plenty of techniques on asphalt preservation and protection:
- Fill and seal cracks: Over time, cracks could easily cause major issues for your asphalt surface. That’s why it’s important to seal them as soon as you notice signs of trouble. Properly sealing cracks can help prevent water and debris penetration, both of which may lead to potholes, base failures and much more. To seal any cracks, you’ll first want to make sure the space is free from debris. Then, use a top-quality sealant, like rubberized asphalt, to fill the crack. Let the sealant sit and avoid driving over the crack until the sealant has had time to cure.
- Micro-surfacing treatments: An emulsion-based treatment, micro-surfacing can help fix any minor asphalt deterioration. The mixture itself features aggregate, polymer-modified asphalt emulsion, water and several other additives. Micro-surfacing is inexpensive and sets quickly, which is why many people use the treatment for their asphalt surfaces.
- Slurry seal treatment: In a slurry seal mixture, the aggregate and emulsion are mixed together. These two serve as a binder that keeps everything held in place. Slurry seal treatments are different from micro-surfacing treatments in that they don’t usually utilize a modified emulsion. The main purposes of a slurry seal are to protect an asphalt surface from moisture penetration and to fix smaller depressions.
- Chip seals: Chip seals are another inexpensive asphalt treatment that often do a great job of preventing water penetration and fixing raveled surfaces. They are even known to help increase the friction of some surfaces. Chip seals are made from asphalt cement and fine aggregate. You should avoid using this treatment on surfaces covered in potholes or surfaces with severe fatigue cracking.
- Thin overlays: Thin overlays are a great way to fix small cracks and similar issues in asphalt surfaces. They can also help improve skid resistance, thus making the asphalt surface in question safer to drive on. The process involves installing a thin layer of pavement over a milled or leveled existing surface.
- Patching: Patching is a quick and easy way to prevent your asphalt from experiencing additional damage. This treatment is especially helpful in correcting potholes and other structural failures. Potholes are a major problem, as they allow excess moisture to get into asphalt surfaces. They are also a safety hazard.
While it’s possible to take care of sealcoating on your own, it’s always best to go with an expert instead. Professional sealcoating providers only use top-of-the-line sealants and equipment to ensure maximum protection for your asphalt surface. If you want to ensure the preservation of your asphalt surface for many years to come, be sure to contact Maryland Asphalt LLC today. We offer a variety of top-quality services, including asphalt paving and sealcoating.
Categorised in: Asphalt Repair