Asphalt Crack Repair – Hot & Cold Sealants

Your asphalt pavement faces many challenges over the years. The UV rays emitted by the sun can make the asphalt dry and brittle. The freeze/thaw cycle can break down the binder, making the paving less flexible. Overweight vehicles can damage the pavement. Cars and trucks can leave puddles of oil that can soften the pavement. Any of these issues can lead to cracks in your pavement, and if these cracks are neglected, the life of your asphalt pavement can be shortened significantly. Asphalt crack repairs are necessary to prevent water penetration that can destabilize the supporting base layers. A destabilized base often results in alligator cracking and/or numerous potholes. However, even people who understand the importance of having cracks repaired quickly are sometimes not sure whether to choose hot-pour or cold-pour sealants for the repairs. Both types of sealants have their uses, but there are several important differences between cold-pour and hot-pour crack sealants.

Asphalt Crack Repair – Hot & Cold Sealants

What Are Cold-Pour Sealants?

Cold-pour sealants arrive at the job site as liquids that can be poured immediately and do not need to be heated before they are applied. They are faster to apply and require less equipment than hot-pour sealants. This makes them less expensive for a short-term solution, but because they do not last as long as hot-pour sealants, they can be substantially more expensive over time.

Cold-pour sealants are incapable of forming a strong, durable bond to the pavement surrounding the crack. They also become inflexible and hard after curing. As a result, cold-pour sealant is easily ejected when freezing temperatures arrive. Even normal traffic can sometimes break the bond and dislodge the material.

Cold-pour sealants are unsuitable for deep or wide cracks. Therefore, they are normally reserved for repairing small cracks in residential driveways that bear only lightweight traffic.

Because cold-pour sealants contain a high proportion of water, the weather conditions must be considered when using these sealants. The water must evaporate if the sealant is to cure. Evaporation occurs much slower in cold weather or when humidity levels are high.

What Are Hot-Pour Sealants?

Hot-pour sealants are asphalt-based products that arrive at the job site as solids. They must be melted before they are poured.

Hot-pour sealants remain flexible after curing, so they can expand and contract when the surrounding pavement thaws and freezes. They also form a very stable bond with the surrounding asphalt. Therefore, hot-pour sealants are much less likely to experience a bonding failure or be dislodged by traffic.

Hot-pour sealants can be applied in cold weather, and because they contain little water, the evaporation rate is of little or no consequence. Furthermore, the lower water content makes hot-pour sealants far less likely to shrink during curing than cold-pour varieties.

Hot-pour sealants offer a semipermanent solution. While cracks repaired with a hot-pour sealant may not last for the remainder of the pavement’s life, they will last much longer than those repaired with a cold-pour sealant. The life of a cold-pour crack repair can be as little as a few months, but a hot-pour crack repair can last several years.

For Expert Help, Contact All Pro Asphalt

All Pro Asphalt is a parking lot maintence contractor that serves the Kansas City area.  We specialize in providing efficient, cost-effective asphalt maintenance and repair to residential and commercial customers throughout the greater Kansas City area. Our services include asphalt crack sealing, parking lot striping, infrared asphalt repairasphalt sealcoating and asphalt paving. We also install, repair and maintain concrete. We are committed to providing superior results and outstanding service at highly competitive rates. If you have more questions about Asphalt Crack Repair – Hot & Cold Sealants or would like to receive a free quote, you can call (816) 249-6800 or submit the online form.

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