Almost all people have an asphalt driveway or parking lots in their homes. After a certain age, you might notice wear and tear on it. Such conditions require professional attention to know the ideal solutions. In such situations, they may recommend asphalt resurfacing or asphalt replacement. Here, we have discussed various benefits of asphalt resurfacing, mentioned below;
What is Asphalt Resurfacing?
When a professional team places a layer of concrete slabs over the damaged area, it is known as asphalt resurfacing. When you have asphalt paving for long years, eventually, it may get damaged, causing cracks, crumbling, or potholes.
The most common & precise solution to this problem is the replacement of asphalt paving. The process includes the following:
- Removing the upper layer.
- Placing the concrete slabs.
- Applying a fresh layer of asphalt paving to restore the cracks and potholes.
Benefits of asphalt resurfacing:
Asphalt paving may offer various benefits making it an ideal option is chosen by driveway contractors.
Lower cost:
Asphalt resurfacing involves less labor, machinery, and materials resulting in a cost-effective solution.
Less downtime:
The asphalt replacement method may take more time to get finished than asphalt resurfacing. When any process completes quickly, it is obvious it takes less downtime, and it is essential for specific areas that offer profits to the government—for example, parking lots.
Improved service life:
Most often, damaged asphalt surfaces do not impact the upper layer made up of concrete material. When professionals use asphalt resurfacing, the durability of your asphalt paving may increase. Also, it can help avoid a premature replacement.
Requirements for asphalt resurfacing:
If you are considering asphalt resurfacing, you must take care of some important things; the foundation of the damaged parking lots should be in a good state, and their age should be less than twenty years old. If the foundation is already damaged, professionals will repair them first, then start the following procedure.
When Should You Consider Asphalt Resurfacing?
If you notice any of the following signs mentioned below, your driveway may need asphalt resurfacing;
- Puddles of water
- Potholes
- Rough surfaces
- Alligator cracks.
The climate also plays a vital role in resurfacing driveways. The places where are unstable weather conditions, asphalt will get damaged faster.
Step-wise process for asphalt resurfacing:
A few stages are involved, but proper maintenance requires continuous work. The asphalt can take up to a year to cure.
Usually, the resurfacing procedure involves just seven easy steps:
1. Assess the damage first
Evaluating the damage before beginning any asphalt repair work is crucial to determine whether resurfacing is the best option. Check to see if the damage is only to the top layer or if there is structural damage underneath for this stage.
2. Clear the Area for Resurfacing
Make sure you prepare and clean the area before beginning the operation. Simple preparation entails:
- Weeding the asphalt and clearing the area of trash.
- Using water and cleaning agent to clean the asphalt.
- Removing any last bits of dirt off the asphalt.
- Letting the asphalt completely dry.
It is crucial to power wash the old asphalt before resurfacing to avoid sealing dirt, debris, and other potentially dangerous materials inside the new asphalt when you seal coat the bottom layer.
3. Crush the asphalt.
When the asphalt surface has been thoroughly cleaned and dried, it is time to compact the top layer with a power rammer. The old asphalt will be ground down using milling, making it simple to replace with fresh asphalt.
You can get away with digging up and fixing damaged asphalt using a shovel or a trowel for small milling projects.
4. Fill Cracks
You must apply crack filler to the cracks and seal coat to the bottom layers of the asphalt to hold the bottom of the asphalt to the top to repair the damage. Once the professionals fill the gaps, they use a flat blade, such as a putty knife, to smooth the crack filler over the damaged area. Make sure the filler is entirely level and smooth.
5. Install fresh asphalt.
It’s time to lay the new asphalt once you’ve fixed and sealed the damages and cracks. This is the real resurfacing step of the procedure, in which the smooth, new surface of brand-new asphalt is rolled and paved.
6. Allow the tar to dry.
Giving the new asphalt adequate time to cure is a vital step in the procedure.
No one should drive on the surface for the first three days once professionals install new asphalt. Although the asphalt will be completely cured in six to twelve months, your client can go without forgo using their driveway or closing their parking lot for that long. Large, heavy trucks should stay off the asphalt to prevent depressions from forming.
7. Apply Asphalt Sealant
The key to maintaining the new layer is to sealcoat the asphalt six to twelve months after you’ve laid the fresh coat.
However, because the new pavement has yet to have enough time to cure, sealing too quickly can harm it.
Asphalt is very vulnerable to the elements during the curing process, including rain, motor oil, antifreeze, etc. These damaging substances can penetrate the top layer of asphalt and leak into the layers below, hastening deterioration. After six months, seal coating the asphalt will safeguard the fresh asphalt and guarantee that you get the most out of the resurfacing procedure.
As a general guideline, Central Florida paving tells their clients that asphalt pavements require resealing every two to three years to prevent cracks, especially if they reside somewhere exposed to factors like intense UV rays or a lot of snow. For more information, contact us today.