Though you might not give much thought to the asphalt you drive and park on, it is sometimes jolted into your thoughts when you drive into a pothole. Your asphalt parking lot or driveway is one of the first impressions people get of your property. Proper maintenance of your blacktop will increase its longevity, keep your property safe and neat, and prevent those pesky potholes.
Without further delay, here are 5 maintenance tips to keep your asphalt at its best:
Sealcoat Your Asphalt
When you lay asphalt, you should have it seal coated as soon as it is set. Sealcoating helps to keep automotive fluids, water, and debris from damaging your asphalt. As your asphalt ages and deteriorates you should reapply it. Contact your asphalt contractor to determine if your pavement requires resealing.
Keep Your Asphalt Free from Debris
When dirt and leaves pile up on your asphalt, moisture can gather underneath them and quicken the deterioration of the sealant. Grass and weeds may also begin to grow in piles of dirt left alone long enough. The growth of the roots will damage your asphalt. Sweeping or the use of a leaf blower routinely to keep your asphalt in good repair is an easy thing to do for regular maintenance.
Clean Vehicle Fluids
Petroleum products are attracted to one another. Petroleum-based automotive fluids on the surface of your asphalt will corrode your sealant as it tries to join the petroleum in the asphalt. To prevent this damage, you should clean up any fluid spills as often as necessary.
Cleaning auto fluids begins by putting down some material that will absorb some of the fluid. Then a degreaser specifically for asphalt is used to clean the surface of the asphalt. Asphalt contractors have special chemical cleaners that they can use to clean automotive fluids from your asphalt’s surface.
Prevent Water from Collecting
When water collects on the pavement, it can hide damaged spots. Pooled water leaves dirt and debris as it dries. Puddles also pose the risk of liability if someone slips and falls.
To prevent water from collecting, point all gutters and drains away from your pavement. Quickly repairing any damage will also help prevent water from collecting on uneven surfaces.
Fill Cracks
The best tip for maintaining your asphalt is to repair cracks promptly. The more quickly you repair a crack, the less time it has for water to seep in and damage the base. Places with harsh winters are particularly susceptible to cracks. Water that makes its way into the pavement freezes and causes damage.
To keep your asphalt well maintained, call Walt’s Paving to complete your residential or commercial paving project in an efficient and timely manner. We have over 40 years of experience paving asphalt driveways, making asphalt repairs, and seal coating asphalt. We are located in Osceola IN and service homeowners and businesses within 50 miles of Elkhart IN.
