Business owners and managers sometimes have to make some difficult decisions. If you have a job vacancy, which of the two equally qualified candidates do you hire? Should you try to get another year out of the trucks used by your field technicians or trade them in? If an employee arrives late too many times, should you issue a verbal reprimand or a written one if you do not have a policy in place? However, with many budgets shrinking, the toughest questions many people face involve the preventive plan for asphalt maintenance. What procedures are critical, and what procedures can be postponed? In other words, how do you allocate your available funds to ensure that you will reap the greatest rewards?
What Is the Best Way to Utilize My Asphalt Maintenance Dollars?
Which Maintenance Procedures for Asphalt Pavement Are the Most Critical?
Assuming that the asphalt company who installed your pavement was competent, your routine maintenance costs should be relatively economical. However, if you ignore or postpone maintenance, you could quickly find yourself scrambling for the funds to complete an expensive repair or even have to replace your pavement. The following list covers the critical maintenance procedures and explains why you should prioritize them.
1. Asphalt crack sealing should be given a high priority. Cracks give water an easy route to the foundation that supports your pavement, giving it both strength and flexibility. The water can destabilize and weaken the foundation. Even worse, when the trapped water freezes, the expanding ice will cause additional damage as it exerts pressure on both the foundation and the pavement. When the ice melts, air pockets are left between the foundation and the pavement. The pavement will likely subside over these pockets, and traffic passing over them can break or crack the asphalt. Water will collect in the depressions, and this can cause more damage as well as pose a hazard to the people driving or walking on your pavement. Furthermore, cracks have a tendency to continue to grow, allowing more water to penetrate and additional damage to be done.
2. Potholes are often the result of cracks that were not repaired as promptly as they should have been. Potholes pose the same risk as cracks when it comes to water infiltration, but potholes typically allow even more water to penetrate. In addition, potholes can cause significant damage to vehicles and present a tripping hazard to pedestrians. Therefore, pothole repairs should be made immediately to protect your pavement as well as reduce your potential liabilities.
3. Asphalt sealcoating is little more than a cosmetic treatment to restore the pavement’s dark, lustrous color. However, sealcoating’s main purpose is to cover asphalt pavement with a tough shell to protect it. Sealants act like a sunscreen to block UV rays, which remove vital moisture from asphalt pavement, leaving it brittle and more easily damaged. Sealcoating also helps prevent oil, gasoline and other chemicals from reaching the pavement; petroleum-based products can soften your asphalt pavement and make it more vulnerable to damage. Sealants need to be applied at regular intervals to provide maximum protection.
If you need these or any other type of parking lot maintenance for your asphalt pavement, contact All Pro Asphalt. We are the paving maintenance specialists that customers in the greater Kansas City area trust. We are known for exceptional work at affordable rates. We will work with you to help you determine the best way to utilize your asphalt maintenance budget. Our services include infrared asphalt repair, asphalt crack repair, sealcoating, parking lot striping, asphalt overlays and asphalt paving. We also offer concrete work. You can submit the request form or call 816-249-6800 to receive a free quote.
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