We all get forgetful at times, and when it comes to the asphalt of your parking area, forgetting your maintenance is as easy as forgetting to do your taxes until April. Fortunately, there are measures that can be taken to fix those unsightly (and dangerous!) cracks, which is more than what can be said for being late on your taxes!
What I’m talking about is “Crack Sealing”, which is vital if your pavement has already reached that point of neglect. Cracks are an indicator that the asphalt hasn’t been maintained for quite some time, and has lost a lot of its flexibility. Even worse, the cracks work to compound the problem by letting water in and under your asphalt, causing additional raveling and cracking, and even dangerous potholes.
There are two paths to go by when getting your crack sealing done. It’s important to keep in mind that, prior to sealcoating, existing cracks need to be repaired anyways. Now, the first is a short term fix of using cold pour sealant, which is good for about a year. This is a long way from doing a proper fix, but it will definitely slow down the damage, possibly saving you money in the short term.
However, if you’re one of those “do it right the first time” kind of people, then you’re going to want to invest in hot pour sealant, which will give you anywhere from three to seven years worth of protection. Additionally, it works hand in hand with a new sealcoat, thus adding even more years of protection to your parking area.
Either way, it’s important to have a qualified professional do an inspection of your parking area. Even a short term fix now can save you thousands of dollars in repairs that will come sooner than you think, much like forgetting your taxes.
