Sealing cracks in your asphalt keeps water from penetrating into the sublayer and prevents further cracking from occurring. Cracksealing also strengthens the pavements surface by binding separated area together.
Which type does your pavement have?
- Reflective Cracks
Reflective Cracking occur when an existing crack or joint in the underlying pavement structure reflects upward through the surface. - Block Cracks
This type of cracking forms a square pattern with cracks intersecting at nearly right angles. Common causes are lack of traffic, (steady traffic constantly kneads the pavement and keeps it flexible), excessive air voids, low-penetration asphalt, or an overly high asphalt mix temperature. - Edge Cracks
Edge cracks appear only parallel to and within 18 inches of the edge of the pavement. Causes include poor base, lack of shoulder support, poor drainage, or frost action. - Joint Cracks
Pavement “joints” are created during initial construction when the edges of two pavement mats are placed next to each other. These constructed joints usually have a lower density of asphalt than that of the surrounding pavement. If the mats don’t bond properly (for a variety of reasons), joint cracks appear. - Slippage Cracks
Slippage cracks are usually crescent-shaped and caused by heavy traffic that is stopping, turning, or climbing a hill. Resultant stresses cause a bond failure between the upper and lower pavement layers. The open end of the U-shaped crack always points in the direction of the applied force. - Alligator Cracks
Over time, a flexible asphalt pavement becomes more rigid and is less able to tolerate vertical deflections. This causes tension in the pavement and results in alligator-type cracking. Such cracking can also occur from structural inadequacy, aging, and oxidation.
The process of repairing your pavement surface with crackfiller starts by cleaning the dust and debris from the cracks with a high-pressure air lance. Using a heated torch attachment the cracks are thoroughly dried in order to insure proper adhesion of the crackfiller materials. The cracks are then sealed using a hot-applied, polymer-based material. The extreme heat during application causes the sides of the asphalt in the crack to melt and form a strong bond with the crack sealer upon cooling. Due to its high elasticity, cracksealer expands and contracts with the thermal movements of the crack.
After the cracksealer has cooled your pavement surface is prepared for asphalt paving or sealcoating.
Cracksealing is not an appropriate method of repair for all types of asphalt cracking. Some areas may need to be removed and patched with a hot asphalt. For more information about asphalt repairs see our Asphalt Paving and Maintenance page or contact us for a free consultation.