Paving is an innovative technique used to form hard surfaces like roads, parking lots, driveways and more. Over time however, pavement needs repairs small paving jobs adelaide.
Edge cracks appear along the exterior edges of your asphalt and can be caused by various issues, including poor drainage, heavy vegetation along the road and excessive traffic. We advise patching these areas as soon as possible for optimal results.
Crack Sealing
Crack sealants feature rubberized composition that allows them to adapt with the pavement’s movement and keep water and incompressible materials out of cracks, thus slowing further deterioration and prolonging asphalt’s lifespan.
Crack seal selection will depend on both your work site and pavement conditions: stiffer sealants work best in parking lots where vehicles turn frequently while softer products work better on roadways. In addition, understanding anticipated movement of cracks allows for application of suitable products.
Crack filler, made up of liquid asphalt heated at around 250 degrees Fahrenheit can be used to fill non-working cracks measuring less than 0.1 inches horizontal and vertical movement in either direction. However, to be effective it must be free from debris like sand, dirt and rocks as well as have minimal edge deterioration before filling.
Patching
Potholes or pavement damage require immediate attention for prevent further deterioration and costly resurfacing costs to be reduced. Thermal Bond Patching (RTBP), using infrared thermal energy to heat new asphalt onto an already damaged surface and blend it together seamlessly, creates long-lasting repairs throughout the year that require no upkeep from maintenance crews.
This method may be slightly more costly than traditional hot-mix patching; however, it requires less labor and equipment compared to other patching procedures.
By employing T-section patches when repairing utility cuts, T-section patches help prevent the formation of planes of weakness that run directly across different layers within a pavement structure. This can enhance performance.
Undercutting
At the outset of an asphalt replacement project, stripping away existing pavement may require using heavy machinery like bobcats or forklifts. This helps create an unblemished slate while guaranteeing proper water drainage across its surface.
Rutting is a structural failure of commercial pavements caused by load-related degradation such as inadequate thickness or subgrade weakness, moisture infiltration or weak asphalt mixes. Once stabilized, rutting can be repaired using HMA or surface treatments such as sealcoating.
Undercutting is the process of digging about two to three feet below the surface and replacing with stronger material, creating an anchor which has been proven to withstand extreme loads (like those carried by trucks) as well as frost heaves. A proof roll may then be placed to support new asphalt installations once they’ve been added; this “built-in” anchor has also been proven to withstand frost heaves without losing strength over time.
Binder Layer
Paving contractors install the binder course as the first layer during asphalt construction. Also referred to as intermediate or base courses, this material serves as “weight-bearing” lift of HMA because its aggregate sizes tend to be larger than its top course counterpart. Furthermore, stabilized materials may also help minimize fatigue issues.
Heavy loads on an asphalt pavement can cause its base to buckle and collapse, creating edge cracking that resembles alligator skin – an indicator of fundamental issues with its structure.
Permanent solutions for repairing base failure include excavating existing blacktop layers and rebuilding them with new runner-crush stone base material, known as R&R (repair and replace). While this may cost more upfront, in terms of savings over time it more than makes up for its expense.
Resurfacing
Asphalt resurfacing extends the life of your driveway or parking lot for a fraction of its replacement costs, often as soon as cracks, potholes or other signs of wear appear across its surface. Resurfacing should only be considered when cracks, potholes or damage is so severe that patching cannot be an option.
Before resurfacing, crews perform an initial cleanup by clearing away cracks and spraying weed killer. Cracks are then filled using products like Quikrete’s Blacktop Repair ($2 per quart) or UGL’s Driveway Crack Sealer ($13 a gallon; treating 400 sq. ft.).
Once the sand layer has been laid down, contractors can apply a tack coat and layer of asphalt to restore damaged areas to their former glory. As needed, their crew may repaint lines or other pavement markings.