As we head into Winter, the minor flaws in your asphalt will become more significant issues by the end of the season. Property managers, facility managers, and business owners won’t see the small problems in the fall, but come Spring, they will see these develop into large problems. Repairing failed asphalt and filling the cracks in your pavement in the fall months will save you big money when spring comes around. Asphalt repair and maintenance with McConnell & Associates will be the protection your Asphalt needs.
In this blog, we’ll explore how winter weather causes damage to asphalt, why crack fill is essential, and how to prevent costly repairs by addressing these issues early.
How Winter Weather Damages Asphalt
Asphalt needs to be evaluated regularly for maintenance and repair. It is not immune to the forces of nature. Winter, through its many forces can be very tough on asphalt. Here are those forces that preventative Asphalt Repair and Crackfill can protect you from this winter.
1. Freezing and Thawing Cycles
Asphalt will become brittle over time due to sun exposure and moisture, which will weaken the bond between the aggregates and the binder and cause initial cracks in asphalt pavement. These can be prevented by sealcoating every few years.
2. Expansion and Contraction
Asphalt can crack, leaving an opening for rain and snow to penetrate the pavement’s bottom layer. When temperatures drop, water freezes and expands, creating a larger opening than before. Now, imagine this happening multiple times throughout the winter season. What was a small crack is now a large one, and a small hole in the pavement is now a pothole your customers or residents have to navigate through.
Potholes: The Result of Asphalt Damage
A Pothole is a depression or cavity in the asphalt surface that forms after the expansion and contraction from winter’s freeze and thaw process. Once a pothole has formed, any vehicle traffic over the pothole will only exacerbate the deformity, increasing the need for asphalt repair before the situation gets worse.
Crack Fill: An Essential Part of Asphalt Repair
While Potholes are very visible and apparent, one of the first parts in this journey to damaged asphalt is the cracks that form. New visible cracks are your last opportunity to repair before looking at a Patch Repair or full asphalt replacement. MAC offers crack fill services using hot rubberized crack fillers to seal those cracks and prevent water from getting into the pavement and causing future damage.
So here are the crucial points of Crack Fill Services and why you need to get it done
1. Prevents Water Damage
Sealing the cracks prevents water from entering the asphalt and freezing. This helps prevent the freeze-thaw cycle that causes cracks to expand and develop into potholes.
2. Extends the Life of Your Asphalt
Regular crack fill servicing before the harsh months will protect your asphalt from major repair and extend the life of the pavement
Tips for Effective Asphalt Repair and Crack Fill
1. Inspect Your Asphalt Regularly
Regularly inspect your asphalt pavement for any flaws or damage that may lead to cracks in the near future.
2. Have a Quality Contractor like MAC Perform Your Crack Filling
McConnell & Associates can complete your crack fill needs and ensure that your asphalt is protected during the harsh months, especially winter.
3. Sealcoat Your Asphalt with MAC
Once Crack Filling is complete, consider Sealcoating your Asphalt. Sealcoating will give you total coverage and protection from the elements.
McConnell & Associates can evaluate your Asphalt Repair needs and determine whether Crack Fill is the right choice for you.
The harsh winter months of snow, ice, and snow plows can cause large-scale damage to your asphalt without proper preventative measures, such as crack fill and sealcoating. Getting your asphalt repair needs taken care of beforehand will save you a headache when spring comes around. If you need your asphalt pavement looked at, give us a call at (816) 842-6066 or visit us online at mcconnellassociates.org
Also visit our business page on the NKC Business Council here