Fall is your last chance to fill asphalt cracks before winter weather settles in for several months. We always recommend customers repair asphalt cracks before winter because rain, snow, ice, and freeze-thaw cycles can damage pavement. Whether you need to repair your residential driveway or the driveway to your commercial building, the way you repair a crack in asphalt pavement remains the same.
In this blog post, the asphalt sealcoating contractors at B&E Coating Services will teach you how to repair asphalt cracks that are less than 1 inch wide. For cracks wider than 1 inch, you’ll need the help of an asphalt paving contractor.
Crack Less Than 1 Inch Wide
Asphalt driveway cracks that are less than 1 inch wide can be easily fixed at home. Fixing small driveway cracks is a simple DIY job that can be done over the weekend. You’ll also be able to pick up everything you need at your local home improvement store. Make sure you check the weather forecast before getting started as you’ll need dry weather for asphalt crack filling.
You’ll need:
- Screwdriver, trowel, or similar tool
- Garden or power hose
- Asphalt patch product
- Squeegee
Follow these instructions to repair small driveway cracks:
- Use screwdriver, trowel, or similar tool to clean driveway crack of dirt or weeds.
- Wash crack with garden or power house.
- Wait for crack to dry.
- Cut top of tube’s spout so its width is smaller than the crack you want to fill.
- Fill crack so it’s level with surrounding pavement.
- Smooth out asphalt patch product with squeegee.
- Wait 24 hours for treatment to dry.
- Apply second coat of asphalt patch product if necessary.
Alligator Cracking
Like the name suggests, alligator cracking looks like the scaly hide of an alligator. Alligator cracking is a sign that the foundation of your asphalt driveway has been damaged beyond repair and will need replacement. Premature driveway replacement usually happens when small cracks weren’t repaired right away.
When water is allowed to seep through cracks into the foundation, it causes permanent structural damage. Alligator cracking can also happen if heavy loads were allowed to sit on your asphalt pavement for long periods of time. For example, a heavy dumpster filled with construction debris or a parked semi-truck can depress the surface of your driveway and cause structural damage.
Crack Over 1 Inch Wide
If the asphalt crack is over an inch wide, you’ll need to call a driveway repair company near you. They’ll have the necessary supplies and tools to fill in large asphalt cracks so water won’t be able to penetrate the foundation.
How Can I Prevent Asphalt Cracks?
The best way to prevent asphalt cracks is through sealcoating. Asphalt sealcoating protects pavement from being damaged by rain, snow, sleet, UV rays, and automobile fluids. Keep in mind that you’ll need to repair asphalt cracks and potholes before sealcoating. Otherwise, the protective sealcoat layer won’t be as effective.
The Michigan asphalt sealcoating contractors at B&E Coating Services, LLC are dedicated to helping you prolong the life of your commercial or residential driveway. If you are interested in our asphalt paving or sealcoating services, give our asphalt contractors a call at 1 (800) SEAL-817.
