Construction & Contractors Blog
As a homeowner, it is important for you to take care of your property, including your home, landscaping, and hardscaped areas of pavement. When any of these become worn and dilapidated, your property loses its value, and your bill for their replacement can be much larger than the bill would have been to maintain them. Here are some tips to help you look after your property's asphalt paving to make sure it keeps its integrity to give you a long-lasting surface of durability.
Clean and Protect Your Paving
Spring is a great time of year to inspect your asphalt for any winter damage while you clean off the residual de-icing chemicals, sand, and other debris left over from winter. These materials are not harmful to your asphalt, but what lies beneath them in the condition of your asphalt can become a problem. If you find that your asphalt contains large cracks, sunken areas, and potholes that have formed over the winter, you need to have them repaired as soon as possible to prevent further deterioration to your asphalt.
After you have cleaned out any dirt, debris, and vegetation growth from cracks and holes in your asphalt, have them patched and filled with an appropriate asphalt filler. You can do this yourself with some basic tools: a shovel or trowel and the end of a four-by-four post to compact the asphalt into place. Or you can hire a professional asphalt crew to repair your asphalt's damage.
If you choose to hire a professional crew, they can also seal your paving once the repairs have been installed. Sealcoating is a protective tar emulsion that restores your asphalt's condition and appearance while it seals in any small cracks and other repairs you have completed. This is a great way to finish off your asphalt's maintenance for spring and get it ready for warm weather.
Consult About Paving Damage
When your asphalt has sustained a great deal of cracking or sinking over winter or the past several seasons, it is a good idea to have it inspected by an asphalt professional. At times, when asphalt has not been installed over a proper foundation, it can begin to sink or crack in a large area.
The foundation material below the asphalt layer needs to be made up of gravel or a sand and soil mixture that has been compacted to allow for adequate drainage and to prevent shifting to protect the asphalt. When the foundation settles, sinks, or shifts from freezing patterns, it can disrupt the surface of your asphalt and destroy its integrity. An asphalt professional can inspect your asphalt and recommend repairs or full replacement to restore it to its optimal condition.
For more information, contact a local asphalt paving company or visit sites like http://www.phend-brown.com.
Share8 February 2019
My name is Debbie Greenberg. I’m a single woman who owns her home, and like most homeowners I dread home repairs. I’m not very handy with do-it-yourself projects around the house. I can do a few minor repairs when necessary, but for the most part I have to call in a professional. Last year I had a leak in my roof. When it rained, water would leak into my kitchen. What appeared to be a simple fix turned out to be anything but simple. It took over four months to finally identify the problem, and double the money I was initially quoted to fix it. The problem ended up being that the flat part of my roof didn't have shingles, but a sheeting material. I learned a bit about home roofs along the way, and that is what I want to share with you.
