The Value of Cracksealing

Rose Paving / February 13, 2018

Stop cracks in their tracks to stretch your maintenance dollar

Cracksealing extends the life of asphalt by preventing water from reaching the sub-base through surface cracks. This is a critical piece of preventative pavement maintenance, since water expands and contracts with the weather and can widen cracks at the surface and weaken the base of your lot. Protect your customers and employees from injury and preserve the structural integrity of your pavement by scheduling this vital service now before the weather really heats up.

How do I know when it’s time to crackseal my asphalt?

Check your parking lot for cracks ranging from ¼ inch to 1-inch wide. Cracksealing works best on cracks measuring 1/4-inch to 1-inch wide. The type of crack (reflective, block, edge, joint, slippage or fatigue) informs how the job should be approached. The best time to crackseal is before a significant temperature fluctuation, for example, before the weather heats up. For clients in more temperate regions, we recommend cracksealing before the rainy season to prevent moisture from entering and weakening the sub-base. Catching cracks early is important because they can spread or mutate into potholes if left untreated.

Who would benefit from cracksealing?

Cracksealing is a type of preventative maintenance that all parking lots should undergo, but there are several types of industries that are especially well-suited for this treatment. Property managers for industrial parking lots that see a lot of pavement stress should keep an eye out for slippage cracks and seal them as soon as they emerge to limit liability. Lots in rainy or snowy places should be sealed before temperature changes and rain, while cracks in hotel and retail parking lots should be addressed with cracksealing early to maintain a polished image and limit safety hazards and customer inconvenience.

How does cracksealing work?

First, the work area is cleared of sand and other debris to prevent it from entering the crack and exacerbating the damage. Our experienced crew heats the cracksealing material to above 375 degrees and injects it into the channel using a special wand. As an extra safeguard, Rose Paving adds an extra thicker and wider layer over the crack to serve as a “Band-Aid” and make the seal more even with the surrounding surface. Crackseal material includes rubberized asphalt, which allows for the asphalt to expand and contract as necessary without worsening to crack, protecting your pavement from future damage.

Cracksealing is the most cost-effective way to maintain your asphalt, which is costly to replace if small cracks are left untreated. If you’re interested in extending the life of your asphalt, download our guide to cracksealing or contact us for a free project estimate