Concrete maintenance is one part of property management that is overlooked on a regular basis. If a house owner has a pit in their parking great deal, it is not cured with the same desperation that a hole in their roof would require. Unfortunately, this neglect of their asphalt brings about more costly repairs in the foreseeable future that could have been averted if the property owner may have followed a protective maintenance plan for their asphalt.
Precisely what is asphalt maintenance? Asphalt maintenance contains protecting asphalt by using the following methods (asphalt seal coating, fracture repair and asphalt repair) to prevent harm to the existing asphalt.
So why should a property owner have their asphalt seal off coated? From the initial moment that asphalt is installed it starts a deterioration process. The concrete is diminished when the binder that holds each of the aggregate (stone) together commences to oxide from sunlight, water and other exterior conditions. Through the close coating process, the asphaltic binder is now guarded from these external conditions. An additional benefit from Asphalt Company seal coating would be that the asphalt is now guarded from the damaging results from gasoline, oil, and de-icing salts. The most evident reap the benefits of asphalt seal off coating is the recovery of the initial color of the asphalt. The concrete regains that new appearance for a cheaper original cost.
Asphalt seal covering is a process by which coal tar emulsion or asphalt emulsion is dispersed or brushed on the asphalt surface. The close coat material should be used in two clothes on the whole areas and 3 coats in the high traffic areas, such as drive lanes.
There is much debate as to what is the best application way of the close coat material. There is a predominant mindset between “old school” seal coaters that brushing the close up coat material is in order to to go. However, there are some short comings from the brushing strategy. By brushing the seal off coat material the natural indentations of the concrete are filled in and the asphalt loses it is traction. Also, contrary to popular belief thicker is not better when making use of the seal coat materials. The Seal coat materials should be applied at. 17 gal/sq. yd. and really should never go over. 51 gal/sq. yd. total.
With the short comings of brushing the seal off coat material being explained, there is an improved substitute. That alternative is bringing out the seal coat materials. This method allows the seal coat material to be used evenly without filling the natural bands of the asphalt. If perhaps a contractor states that they brush exclusively, take caution in working with these businesses. A large number of times these companies have not committed to updated equipment, which will prevent them from completing the greater seal off coating jobs.
Another aspect of seal coating that is overlooked by customers is the mixture of the seal coat materials itself. The material is should be mixed at 25 to 35 gallons of water per 75 gallons of concentrated sealer. Also, the seal layer material should be increased with 2-5 pounds of sand per every gallon of sealer. The fine sand is employed to revive traction to the surface following the concrete has been treated. The moment creating work specifications make sure you include the amount of desired sand required every gallon of sealer. The smoother the existing surface or the higher the traffic volume will demand higher volumes of sand in the seal coat materials.
In addition to concrete seal coating, crack repair is essential to properly tending to asphalt. Due to the settling of the ground, poor base design and asphalt oxidation concrete will crack. When the asphalt cracks it is encountered with water damage. Drinking water penetrates the cracks and gravity pulls it into the sub-base (stones) which deteriorates that supportive composition. This deterioration causes concrete depressions, pot holes and additional cracking. Also, in the winter when drinking water expands in the splits via the freezing process, the cracks widen after some time.
Hot tar is placed on the cracks to prevent water penetration. Hot tar is melted to 375 degrees and poured into the cracks. To surface finish the crack repair process the hot tar is squeeged into the bust to make a 4 inch band. All dust should be taken off the cracks before treatment. Fracture repair is a momentary fix and does not replace the requirement to actually replace the asphalt. However, crack repair is more cost effective than actual asphalt replacement unit.
It is said that if 30% or more of asphalt is damaged, it is far more cost effective to replace it. With that being said, nearly all property owners choose to replace certain sections at a time. One thing to bear in mind is that if an area of asphalt needs replaced because it was sinking, there is obviously problems with the sub-base which should be replaced as well.
If the concrete needs to get substituted there are two techniques for replacement. The conventional method is to saw slice the area and replace the asphalt and seal off the seams with hot tar. Another modern method consist of by using a Infrared Heater to heat the present asphalt, then additional concrete is added and the spot is compacted. The great things about using an Infrared heater is that the fix is a seamless fix that won’t allow water transmission. Difficulties fall back with using infared is that if there is a current sub-base problem, the concrete will not be properly repaired whether it is merely re-heated and not actually removed to replace the underlying natural stone. In the right conditions, Infrared treatments to concrete add extra benefits to the property owner due to final aspect of unlined repair.