Crack Sealing
As the seasons change, asphalt contracts and expands. This movement causes cracks. Crack sealing is used to treat isolated random cracks in a pavement system. Cracks can be routed and cleaned with compressed air, then a hot rubberized asphalt material is placed into the opening. Crack sealing prevents surface water from migrating through a pavement structure and into the sub-grade. The hot rubber will retain its elasticity during repeated freeze or thaw cycles.
Crack Sealing Procedure
● Clean cracks in an area/areas with high-pressure air of all dirt and debris.
● An asphalt crack cleaning machine to used on cracks that have lot of soil/vegetation in them.
● Place backer rod/sand in cracks larger than a 1/2 inch before any sealing is done.
● Seal those cracks with a hot pour rubberized crack sealant.
Please Note: There might be some exceptions to the Crack Sealing Procedure as listed below.
If there is a lot of tall weeds and grass in the driveway/parking lot to be sealed they should be sterilized with a product like roundup at least 1 week prior before any crack sealing is done.
Hot pour materials are designed for cracks up to 1″ typically found in driveways parking lots. Larger cracks over 1″ can still be sealed by this method to avoid a more expensive future repair, however, the products typically aren’t designed to stand-up to these types of larger cracks and voids. In those cases we would recommend some form of asphalt repair.
Crack routing which is optional and is seldom needed or required.