A career as a commercial property manager can be rewarding, but it can also be stressful. Sometimes, you may feel as if you need to be in three places at once or are surely setting a new record for multitasking. However, despite the various demands on your time, you know that you must ensure that the property’s assets are protected so that they will generate the best return on the money invested in them. Since these assets include any asphalt pavement on the property, you need to make sure that you give asphalt crack repair its proper priority. Neglected cracks can quickly lead to costly repairs or even the total reconstruction of your asphalt pavement.
Asphalt Crack Repair – What Property Managers Should Consider
Why Should You Include Crack Repairs in Your Asphalt Maintenance Program?
Asphalt pavement relies on a stable foundation for its strength and resiliency. If the foundation is compromised, the pavement may experience subsidence, alligator cracking or other serious damage. At best, a severely damaged foundation will entail a repair that is much more expensive than a crack repair. At worst, the entire pavement may have to be removed and rebuilt.
Giving prompt attention to any cracks that develop is the best way to avoid potentially serious problems. Cracks allow water to seep beneath the pavement and erode the foundation. This is bad enough when the weather is warm, but in the winter, the trapped water can freeze. As it freezes, it expands, exerting additional pressure on the foundation as well as the pavement. The pavement can be forced upward, and once the ice melts, a void can be left between the pavement and the foundation. When traffic passes over the void, the pavement can give way. The result can be a pothole, a massive crack or a patch of alligatored asphalt. Foundations cannot be repaired without first removing the existing pavement and replacing it after rebuilding the foundation.
Having a paving contractor tailor a preventive maintenance plan to suit your needs is an excellent way to ensure that cracks in your pavement receive prompt attention. A good plan will provide at least one inspection per year, but an inspection every six months would be better.
How Are Cracks in Asphalt Pavement Repaired?
Most cracks are repaired by using either the asphalt crack sealing or asphalt crack filling method. The crack’s size, type and rate of expansion are the primary factors used to determine which method to use.
• Asphalt crack filling involves the insertion of an asphalt crack filler into the crack. This method is usually chosen for cracks that are too wide for sealing and/or for cracks that have stopped expanding. Asphalt crack filler is not very flexible, so its bond with the pavement can be broken if the pavement experiences movement. Although crack filling is cheaper than crack sealing, a repair made using filler will have a much shorter life.
• Asphalt crack sealing involves the application of a sealant over the crack. Occasionally, the sealant may be placed inside the crack as well. Because they are rubberized, sealants remain flexible, allowing them to move when the pavement experiences movement.
For help with all your asphalt maintenance needs, please contact us. All Pro Asphalt is a paving and parking lot maintenance company based in Kansas City, MO. We offer an extensive range of services, including asphalt crack repairs, asphalt sealcoating, asphalt patching, infrared asphalt restoration, asphalt paving and overlays, parking lot striping and concrete work. We serve commercial and residential clients throughout the greater Kansas City area. Our references are impressive, and we have built an exemplary reputation for delivering outstanding work at affordable prices. For a free quote, call our office at 816-249-6800 or fill out the online form.
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