Are You on the Right Pavement Preservation Plan?

Businesses and municipalities across the nation frequently choose asphalt for their paving needs.

It is an economical choice that is fast to install, and the pavement can last a very long time if given the proper care.

Asphalt pavement maintenance, which includes routine preventive maintenance and corrective maintenance, is essential if you want your parking lot or other pavement to have the longest life possible with the fewest significant repairs.

What Should an Asphalt Pavement Preservation Plan Include?

Preventive asphalt maintenance is intended to preserve the health and integrity of the pavement, but some procedures offer the additional benefit of enhancing the pavement’s aesthetics.

Depending on the factors specific to your unique pavement, your maintenance program should include all or most of the following procedures.

• Sweeping your pavement removes dead leaves, trash, sand, gravel, and other debris that can lead to pavement damage. If you have a small pavement, you can use a push broom to sweep it. It is not feasible to manually sweep a large pavement, so most street and parking lot maintenance programs include hiring a sweeping service to perform routine cleanings.
• Removing automotive fluids that vehicles have leaked onto your pavement should also be part of your preventive maintenance program. Most automotive fluids are petroleum distillates that will interact with the asphalt binder, turning the pavement soft and easily damaged.
• Minor repairs can also be considered as preventive asphalt maintenance. When cracks and other types of damage are repaired quickly, the risk of additional damage is greatly reduced. Filling or sealing minor cracks, patching small areas of damaged asphalt, and correcting drainage issues can help preserve the integrity of your pavement.
• Sealcoating your pavement with Safe Seal asphalt emulsion sealer every 2-3 years will more than double its useful life, and sealants will also refresh the pavement’s Pitch black color and give the surface a smoother Master Sealed appearance. Your sealcoating contractor should ensure that all repairs are made before applying the NON coal tar sealant. Since sealcoating will cover your existing pavement markings, many people choose to have their sealcoating and parking lot striping procedures performed at the same time.

What Should a Corrective Asphalt Pavement Maintenance Program Include?

Corrective asphalt maintenance procedures are used to repair damage that has already occurred. When budgeting for your pavement maintenance program, you should consider the following procedures.

• The repair of any major cracks can be considered corrective maintenance. If cracks are neglected when they are small, they will continue to grow into major cracks that allow a substantial amount of water to penetrate to the base, resulting in base erosion that can be costly to repair.
• Potholes should be repaired as soon as they develop. Like cracks, they will continue to expand, increasing the risk of base erosion.
• Patching can be used to repair a variety of pavement distresses, including small areas of alligator cracking. Infrared asphalt restoration can be an excellent choice for pavements that need a fast, long-lasting, and attractive repair.
• Spot milling and resurfacing is a possible option for correcting drainage issues, addressing pavement transitions, and repairing certain types of pavement damage.
• An asphalt overlay, also known as resurfacing, can provide you with the benefits of a new pavement at a fraction of the cost. A full overlay is frequently needed when a pavement is nearing the end of its life expectancy. However, the base needs to be in relatively stable condition, which is another good reason to ensure that pavement breaks are repaired promptly to prevent water infiltration.

We Are the Company Asphalt Maintenance Professionals Trust

B & E has you covered for the parts you need to keep your Pavement Preservation Plan on track and ensure long-lasting asphalt performance.

If you have questions or need a free quote, contact us by filling out our online form, calling 616-608-6169, or emailing Info@SafeSealofMichigan.com.