Whether you manage an apartment building with 50 units or the largest shopping mall in your state, you are tasked with ensuring proper maintenance for a variety of systems. One area of maintenance that is often misunderstood is the proper care of asphalt pavement. It can also be difficult for property managers to decide when it is time to replace the pavement.

Caring for Pavement

Asphalt pavement does not require a great deal of maintenance, but it does need routine care. Fortunately, preventive maintenance for asphalt pavement can be performed with minimal disruption and at economical prices. There are three essential procedures that can help you prolong the life of your pavement.

• Asphalt Crack Repairs: Cracks in asphalt pavement are common and virtually inevitable. Breaks that allow water to penetrate beneath the pavement must be repaired promptly to prevent foundation damage. A damaged foundation can severely shorten the life of the pavement and result in costly repairs.
• Asphalt Sealcoating: Sealants are more than a superficial beauty treatment for asphalt pavement. They block damaging UV rays that fade the pavement’s color and also make it dry and brittle. In addition, sealants act as a barrier against caustic chemicals that can destroy asphalt pavement. Depending on your circumstances, you will probably need to have fresh sealant applied every 18 to 24 months, and areas receiving the most traffic may need to be sealed more frequently.
• Drainage: If storm drains or gutters become clogged with debris, water will collect around the drains and could be forced under the edges of the pavement. Debris should be removed promptly and drains cleaned regularly to facilitate drainage.

Repair or Replace?

The decision to repair asphalt pavement or replace it depends primarily on the overall condition of the pavement. If the pavement is 15 to 20 years old and has areas of extensive damage over most of its surface, it is typically more economical to replace it. However, if the damage is limited to certain areas, you might be able to replace only the damaged areas and delay work on the better areas. If the pavement is less than 10 years old and has only minor damages, repairing it is normally the right choice. On the other hand, if the pavement is relatively new and it has extensive damage over most of its surface, this could indicate a problem with the original installation that may not be cost-effective to repair repeatedly.

Let Us Help You Solve Your Asphalt Pavement Problems

B&E Coating Services offers a complete range of services for repairing and maintaining asphalt pavement. We routinely work with the managers of both small and large commercial, industrial, and residential properties throughout Michigan. Whether you need sealcoating services, asphalt crack repairs, asphalt paving, or pavement markings, our crews have the training and experience to provide you with exceptional results at competitive rates. And, we only use non-coal tar sealants. Submit the online form to request your free estimate or call our Grand Rapids asphalt contractors at 989-352-7305.