Repairing Asphalt Driveways

Asphalt driveways take quite a beating over time. Not only do they have to withstand the weight and pressure of vehicles, they also experience plenty of wear and tear due to the elements. This results in common issues such as potholes, cracking and fading. One of the more specific reasons for these issues are due to the asphalt’s binder drying out, which is caused by a lack of maintenance, poor drainage and overall wear and tear. Your asphalt driveway needs to be regularly maintained in order to prevent such issues from occurring, or to prevent such issues from getting worse. The following are a few tips for asphalt driveway repair:

Repairing asphalt cracks

One of the most important asphalt driveway repairs that you can do is repairing any cracks that appear. If you don’t repair the cracks that have developed in your asphalt driveway, it can lead to water entering the cracks and seeping into the underlying pavement base. This will result in even more severe cracking or heaving because of freeze thaw cycles. Another reason to repair those cracks is that foreign objects can enter, thereby causing more damage when the temperature changes, which causes the pavement to expand and contract.

To repair the cracks, you’ll want to pour a blacktop crack filler into the cracks to prevent water and other foreign materials from getting into the cracks. Before pouring a filler inside, you may need to saw or open up the crack. You’ll also need to clean it using a pressure washer to make sure that the sealant will bond with both sides.

Repairing potholes

Potholes are another common issue requiring asphalt driveway repair. The same thing that happens with cracks can happen with potholes – water can penetrate the subgrade, thereby causing more damage during freezing temperatures. There are a number of patches that can be used to repair the potholes. Remember, just like repairing asphalt cracks, you’ll need to prepare the potholes by sweeping them clean and removing any loose parts of the asphalt.

After you have done asphalt driveway repair in order to fix any cracks or potholes, you’ll need to seal the asphalt. This, of course, only comes after you give the repairs time to cure.

For additional information about our asphalt driveway repair services or for information on line striping in Northern Virginia, be sure to contact us at Master Markings today.