Mother Nature presents some challenges when it comes to maintaining paved surfaces no matter where you live. But our hot and humid Texas climate can be particularly hard on asphalt, often causing cracks, potholes and other damage. When it comes to maintaining your asphalt surface, repairing damages quickly is key. Although there are some products sold to the public for asphalt repair, such as crack sealer and cold-mix asphalt, it’s always better to have repairs done by a professional asphalt repair company. If the repair is poorly done, the asphalt surface may continue to deteriorate, making repaving necessary much sooner than it would be otherwise. Fortunately, professional asphalt companies specialize in several different types of repairs that will restore the asphalt surface, including:
- Filling cracks. It’s important to remember that even small cracks can allow for water and other liquids to seep into the pavement, and that can quickly lead to deterioration of the asphalt surface. But filling those cracks right away is a good way to keep the surface from deteriorating too quickly. Water is often the enemy of asphalt, so the sooner you have cracks repaired, the better.
- Repairing potholes. Anytime a pothole forms – even a small one – it can have a devastating effect on an asphalt surface. For that reason, it’s important to have any pothole repaired as soon as possible. The key to effective pothole repair is in the quality of the materials used. Any reputable asphalt company will use only the best quality material to ensure that the repair stands up over time.
- Skin patching. From time to time, worn asphalt will form depressions or dips in the surface. These depressions will, over time, weaken the surface. In these instances, asphalt repairers will often use what’s referred to as “skin patching,” which involves applying a thin layer of asphalt over the depression to even out the surface.
- Seal coating. One of the best ways to prolong the life of the asphalt surface is with seal coating. When done on a regular basis, seal coating protects the asphalt from weather damage, improves the appearance of the surface, and guards against damage from water and harmful fluids.
- Resurfacing. Eventually, almost every asphalt surface that still has a solid sub-grade will need to be resurfaced. It’s just inevitable for any outdoor pavement that is exposed to weather and wear and tear. Resurfacing, put very simply, involves applying a new layer of asphalt over an existing asphalt surface. The result is a surface that looks brand new!
While it’s true that nothing lasts forever, asphalt surfaces can usually be repaired by trained professionals using high quality materials. To ensure that your asphalt surface lasts as long as possible, keep it clean and have repairs done promptly by a reputable company.