Asphalt is the leading paving material in the United States for parking lots, residential driveways, subdivision streets, walking trails, rural roads, sports courts, busy highways, and many other types of pavements. The benefits of asphalt paving are numerous, including economical installation and repair costs, longevity, safety, visual appeal, and speed of installation and repair. However, without timely and professional maintenance, asphalt pavements can lose their looks, become less safe, and have their useful lives cut by 50% or more. Although asphalt pavements can use a little maintenance during other seasons, the asphalt maintenance company that installed your pavement probably recommended that you focus much of your attention on summer maintenance.
Why Is Summer a Popular Time to Perform Asphalt Maintenance?
First of all, the longer hours of sunlight allow an asphalt maintenance or paving company to complete more work each day. This can be especially important when the project is vast in scope or requires multiple steps to complete. Each time that your contractor must transport his equipment and crew to your site, he incurs expenses that he may pass on to you, so fitting as much work as possible into a single mobilization can save you money as well as reduce pavement closures that could inconvenience your tenants, customers, guests, or employees. Also, some procedures need higher temperatures, exposure to a minimum number of hours of direct sunlight, or both to achieve the best results.
What Should My Summer Checklist for Maintenance Include?
The first item on your checklist should be a complete inspection of your asphalt pavement. During your examination, look for the following signs that you need to call your contractor to schedule the necessary procedures.
1. Is the color of your pavement gray or dingy brown? Faded color is virtually always an indication that you need new seal coating. Although seal coating can bring back your pavement’s dark color, its protective benefits are more critical. Automotive fluids, UV radiation, traffic, and water infiltrate beneath the top layer of your pavement can inflict damage that can be expensive to repair or even end the useful life of your pavement. Sealants help guard against all of these potential damages.
2. Is your asphalt striping faded, worn, or damaged? Visible pavement markings and parking lot striping help reduce confused or distracted drivers, making your pavement safer for all who walk, drive, or park there. Your sealcoating contractor may also offer asphalt striping and marking, and this might save you both time and money.
3. Are there cracks or potholes in your pavement? Openings in the surface allow water to leak through the entire structure of your pavement. It will eventually lead to foundation erosion, alligator cracking, subsidence, major cracks, and deep, large potholes. The summer is the preferred season for these types of repairs.
4. Do you see polished aggregate, tire ruts, or loose rocks? Although they typically have different causes, these damage patterns often mean that you will need to call an asphalt paving company to install an overlay if the damage is widespread. However, if the affected area is relatively small, your contractor may install a patch. Whether you need a patch or an overlay, summer is the best time to perform the work. To ensure the best results, asphalt must be spread, worked, and compacted before it cools excessively, so hot weather gives the contractor’s crew more time to complete the process.
5. How clean is your asphalt pavement? Dead vegetation and trash can trap moisture and stain your pavement. However, oil and other automotive fluids can inflict severe damage on asphalt pavement. Sealcoating will buy you a little time to remove these spills, but automotive fluids will eventually deteriorate the sealant and begin softening the pavement underneath.
6. Does water pool on your asphalt pavement? After it rains, your pavement should shed the water relatively quickly and evenly. If there are low spots, the water can pool, providing a breeding ground for mosquitoes, posing a potential threat to pedestrians, and annoying drivers. There are several possible causes that your paving company representative will need to identify.
MH Greeson Paving is one of North Georgia’s leading asphalt maintenance contractors. We offer an extensive range of paving services, including crack repair, pothole repair, parking lot striping, ADA compliance, and sealcoating. We also install bollards, wheel stops, and traffic signs. Our employees have the expertise and the desire to deliver exceptional work and remarkable customer service at reasonable prices. Please request a free quote today by completing our online form or calling 770-335-2983.
