Asphalt driveway repair
The Factors Involved in Asphalt Crack Filling
Most homeowners prefer an asphalt driveway for their houses. Asphalt, as a material, has many advantages. It is easy to handle and gives a nice appearance when laid well. Asphalt paving is also easy to repair if cracks were to appear. Depending on the variations in the weather and the usage of the driveway, an asphalt surface will have to be repaired once every three to five years. The overall life of a good asphalt driveway would be more than ten years. You must engage the best agency in Plano to get the job done. Skye Asphalt has over a decade of experience in this business and can offer you a perfect Asphalt driveway repair service.
Cracks Can Appear and Will Need Repairs
A typical asphalt driveway or paving will naturally develop cracks after a few years. However, this depends on how heavily the surface gets used and how extreme the weather conditions are. Knowing the conditions in Plano, TX, it may be assumed that an asphalt surface can develop cracks as early as in three years. The maximum time it may last without needing any repairs can be up to five years. At that juncture, you will have to call the asphalt company to repair the surface. The cracks are repaired through the asphalt crack filling process. If the same company had laid the surface in the first place, then they would know the details and will apply the correct materials to fill the crack.
Asphalt Driveway repair using Crack Filling Process
The asphalt crack filling process involves first cleaning up the cracked area thoroughly and removing any plant growth. After this, the cold-applied crack filler is poured into the cracks till it comes up to the surface level of the driveway. This material is made of asphalt that has been modified into an emulsion liquid with a polymer added in the mix to provide the binding strength. If there is excess, it is leveled out leaving a uniform surface. It is left to dry and bind thoroughly with the rest of the asphalt.
While this cold liquid process is common, at least in the case of driveways, there is the hot-pour crack filling process as well. This is generally used in the case of roads and larger areas of asphalt paving.
The Endless Asphalt vs. Concrete Debate
Some people prefer to go for a concrete driveway instead of asphalt. The debate on which is better keeps raging. There are positive and negative points on both sides. With Plano’s extreme weather with snow in the winters and hot sun in the summers, the choice becomes tough. Asphalt may not be very suitable for the hot weather but holds good in the harsh cold. Concrete, on the other hand, develops issues on the surface in the cold weather particularly when it snows.
Let’s compare a few other points.
Concrete driveways will cost higher initially but last longer than asphalt. They may also need fewer repairs. Asphalt paving will require more frequent repairs but it is easier to repair and is not very expensive either. From the appearance point of view, concrete gives you more options in imparting designs and shapes which is not possible with asphalt. In the end, it may all boil down to the individual’s choice. The basic issue at hand is how the cracks that appear in the driveway should be fixed. The use of concrete crack filler or asphalt patch provides the solution.
Always Engage Professional Agencies for Driveway Repairs
Repairs to your driveway are not expected to be done very often. You should be looking at a 3 to 5years gap between any two repairs. For asphalt crack filling work, you must get the best team in Plano. Skye Asphalt offers an ideal choice near you. If they had been the original driveway pavers, it makes your work easier. They would know their job and depute the right team at your place to complete the asphalt crack filling work.
You and your family members must be aware of how to maintain the asphalt driveway so that it stays without developing cracks too soon. Experts advise that you should water the asphalt surface using a hose. You must also prevent the accumulation of dirt on the surface.
Cracks in your Asphalt (Big or Small) allow water to penetrate the surface and make the gravel under your asphalt soft and sponge like causing the cracks to spread and multiply. The freeze thaw effects of winter also add to this because moisture and water trapped under the surface will expand when frozen and heave up on the Asphalt. Hot Rubber Crack Filling is the only thing known to slow the process, it’s also a great addition to Sealcoating. Call today for your Free Estimate!