Winter Driveway and Parking Lot Crack Sealing

What Is Parking Lot Crack Sealing?

There are two methods your contractor can make an asphalt crack repair. The first is crack filling. This involves placing a filler inside a crack after your contractor prepares the void by cleaning and smoothing its walls. In cold weather, contractors typically use cold-applied pourable crack fillers. These types of crack fillers have very short life expectancies. Therefore, you will want to have your contractor perform a longer-lasting repair in the spring. The second method is crack sealing. Your contractor will normally use a hot rubberized crack sealant to seal asphalt cracks rather than fill them. A rubberized crack sealant can remain pliable in cold weather as well as hot. This gives it the ability to retain a bond with the pavement when it contracts and expands. These hot-applied crack sealants are best applied with a mechanical pressurized pumping machine.

Why Is Parking Lot Crack Sealing Critical?

Typically, paving contractors construct an asphalt pavement by leveling and compacting the ground, then constructing and compacting an aggregate base. Next, they place and compact multiple courses of hot mix asphalt (HMA)until the pavement reaches the desired thickness. The ground and aggregate base form a foundation that supports the pavement. It is the foundation that gives asphalt pavement its ability to remain flexible and strong. Water that enters through open cracks can penetrate as far as the base, resulting in an eroded, unstable, and weakened foundation. Lacking the support it needs, the pavement can develop alligator cracking, potholes, and subsidence. It can be expensive to repair a foundation because it will require removing the pavement to gain access to the base. In a worst-case scenario, it will be more cost-effective to tear out the existing pavement.

Do the Same Principles Apply to Cracks in Asphalt Driveways?

Whether you have an asphalt driveway or an asphalt parking lot, your pavement can develop cracks. Regardless of the pavement’s use, it is always better to seal asphalt cracks rather than fill them. However, if driveway crack sealing is impossible for some reason, it would be wise to fill them. Closing the cracks, even if it is a temporary repair, can keep out the water that might damage the pavement’s foundation.

Will a Hot Rubberized Crack Sealant Repair Any Type of Crack?

It is not possible to repair certain cracks by filling them. However, your contractor can repair virtually any type of crack with a crack sealant. One major exception is alligator cracking. In almost every case, alligator cracking is the result of damage to the base. Unless contractors repair the base, there is no product they can apply over or inside these cracks that will not fail almost immediately. Usually, a contractor will recommend using a full-depth patch or a skin overlay patch to repair alligator cracking.

Can B&E Coating Services Repair Cracks in Asphalt Pavements?

At B&E Coating Services, we specialize in asphalt services for customers in Michigan. Our services include catch basin and drain repairs, asphalt crack repair, sealcoating, asphalt patching, infrared asphalt repair, parking lot striping, asphalt milling, parking lot sweeping, asphalt paving, pothole repair, and power washing. We also construct and repair concrete, repair drains and catch basins, and repair gravel driveways. We have an exceptional reputation for service and workmanship. If you are interested in receiving a free quote, complete the online request form, or call 800-SEAL-817.

(989) 352-7305

6710 4 Mile Road
Blanchard, MI 49310