Members of homeowner associations expect that a percentage of their monthly dues and special assessments will help protect the value of their properties. A safe and aesthetically pleasing environment, including parking lots and streets, can play a huge part in ensuring that property values do not fall. However, as soon as the paving services contractor finishes constructing a pavement, it begins to be attacked by the weather and traffic. With vigilance, you can counter the destructive forces and obtain a better return on your pavement investment by ensuring that the pavement is properly maintained.
How Do You Maintain Asphalt Pavement?
Professional asphalt maintenance is economical, minimally disruptive, and highly effective at prolonging the pavement’s life. Two critical maintenance procedures are asphalt sealcoating and asphalt crack repair.
What Is Asphalt Sealcoating?
When contractors sealcoat parking lot pavements or other asphalt surfaces, they apply a liquid sealant to clean, dry pavement. The sealant bonds with the pavement, and tiny particles in the sealant knit together to form a continuous protective shell. Sealants help protect asphalt pavement from damages inflicted by water penetration, oil and other petroleum distillates, and harsh ultraviolet radiation from the sun. In addition, sealcoating can restore faded, dingy gray pavement to its original dark color. Depending on your particular pavement, you will probably need to sealcoat parking lot pavements every two years, but trails, paths, and sidewalks may remain well-protected for four or five years.
What Is Asphalt Crack Repair?
When cracks develop in asphalt pavement, water has an easy path to penetrate to the foundation layers. As the water percolates through the foundation, it washes away material, leaving the foundation weaker and creating air pockets between the foundation and the pavement. Traffic can collapse these pockets, leading to potholes. The weakened foundation can cause more cracks to form or allow existing cracks to worsen rapidly. An annual inspection and the repair of significant cracks can help prevent damage patterns that can be much more expensive to remedy.
There are two primary repair methods that are used for cracks in asphalt pavement. The method with the longest longevity is crack sealing. Rubberized material is inserted into the crack and onto the edges of the surrounding pavement. This material is not easily dislodged as it can move when the pavement moves and still maintain a strong bond. The second method is crack filling. The material used lacks the flexibility of a crack sealer, so it does not move with the pavement. The bond can be broken and the material dislodged. The repair method will depend on the type of crack and other factors.
What About Asphalt Pavement Striping and Marking?
Technically, pavement striping and marking is more about increasing safety and visual appeal than it is about prolonging the life of your pavement. However, vibrant, neat, clearly visible markings and stripes can play a role in protecting your asphalt pavement. For example, the right markings can help prevent people from driving on the shoulders, parking trailers or RVs where the pavement may be too thin to support the weight, or operating motorcycles or ATVs on walking trails. Fresh paint should be applied once the existing markings lose more than 75% of their original visibility, which usually takes about two years.
What Is Asphalt Resurfacing?
Resurfacing is the installation of an asphalt overlay to an existing pavement that is reaching the end of its useful life. Resurfacing is less expensive than rebuilding the pavement, but an overlay will be almost identical to a new pavement in longevity and appearance. Depending on use and the care it receives throughout its life, an asphalt pavement typically needs an overlay every 12 to 18 years.
How Can MH Greeson Help?
MH Greeson specializes in asphalt maintenance and repair services for parking lots, tennis courts, and other types of pavements. Our services include asphalt crack repair, sealcoating, asphalt patching and asphalt repair, parking lot striping and marking, bollard installation, and parking lot signs. We serve customers in the Atlanta metropolitan area as well as in many other locations in North Georgia. We believe in providing exemplary work at reasonable prices, and we have the resources and expertise to handle even your largest project. If you would like to receive a free written proposal, call our Marietta office at 770-335-2983 or submit the online quote request form.
