Asphalt is the most commonly used material for roads, driveways, and parking lots because it’s both cost-effective and durable. But even the toughest asphalt wears down over time. If you neglect your pavement, you’ll wind up spending significant time and money on repairs and renovations. So, proper asphalt maintenance is crucial for not only prolonging your asphalt’s lifespan but also reducing long-term costs. With that in mind, let’s go over five important steps to follow for proper preventative asphalt maintenance.
Five steps to Follow for Preventative Asphalt Maintenance
1. Keep Asphalt Surfaces Clean and Clear
Your asphalt features are constantly exposed to the elements, including sunlight, rain, snow, wind, pests, chemicals (from vehicles), and more. As a result, these surfaces quickly become littered with dirt and debris, which can cause deterioration and hinder your property’s curb appeal. Regularly cleaning your asphalt is a key component of preventative asphalt paving maintenance. Sweeping and power washing will remove dirt and debris from surfaces, cracks, and holes, improving your asphalt’s appearance and protecting it from further degradation.
2. Regularly Inspect Asphalt Features
Preventative maintenance is all about keeping tabs on a particular asset or area. If you don’t regularly inspect your asphalt features, you’ll have no way of knowing whether or not certain measures are required for restoration. Make a routine out of checking your asphalt surfaces at least once a week to check for scratches, stains, cracks, holes, potholes, and other common problems. The sooner you note these issues, the easier and less expensive it will be to resolve them.
3. Fill Cracks and Holes Promptly
Cracks and holes are among the most common forms of damage you’ll find on any asphalt surface. While these issues don’t pose imminent threats in their early stages, even the smallest crack can turn into a massive gulf over time – that is, unless you intervene. Indeed, filling cracks and holes shortly after you spot them is a key aspect of residential and commercial paving maintenance. Sealing these gaps will keep moisture and debris out of your asphalt and ensure a level, smooth surface for pedestrians and vehicles.
4. Consider Sealcoating
Sealcoating offers a relatively quick, easy, and cheap method for protecting your asphalt surfaces without investing in a full asphalt paving project. Simply put, sealcoating prevents the formation of cracks, potholes, and divots in your asphalt, adding years to its life. Proper sealcoating is also useful in colder regions like New England during winter, as the dark coating helps thaw any snow or ice that lands on asphalt surfaces.
5. Line Stripe for Greater Clarity and Organization
Lastly, line striping is an important preventative step to take, particularly for commercial asphalt projects. By marking your parking lot with bright, clear lines, you help vehicle operators navigate the space, park in an orderly fashion, know when to slow down, stop, turn, etc. Organizing your asphalt in this way ensures that traffic flows in a consistent manner, minimizing the risk of accidents, confusion, damages, and injury.
If you want your asphalt features to stand the test of time, you must keep them clean, inspect them regularly, promptly patch cracks and holes, seal your surfaces, and consider marking your surfaces for greater clarity. Cassidy Paving can help with all of these preventative maintenance tasks and more. Call us today at 866-978-9788 for a free estimate on your next asphalt project!