Asphalt Maintenance Categories It is important that the proper asphalt driveway maintenance is done in order to make sure that it does not fail and need to be replaced or repaired. Patch repair This is a common form of asphalt maintenance and deals with areas that are isolated. To do patch repair the asphalt paving is removed from the areas to be repaired by using a grinding machine or backhoe and saw cutting. Once this is done it will be replaced with new asphalt. Generally the removal depth is equal to one point five times the thickness of the original payment and it should extend twelve inches beyond the area that needs to be repaired. When doing repair it is best to do it in rectangles or squares because if you use irregular shaped patches it would create weak points. Asphalt overlay This form of asphalt maintenance is the one that is most affordable and will provide a new surface over the entire driveway. The overlay thickness should be one point five inches thick with the maximum being two point five inches. Inlay and pulverize in place The asphalt maintenance is accomplished using a milling machine, which will remove a specified depth of the existing asphalt driveway. This is usually a previous overlay. Once this is done the contractors will put the driveway back at the pre-lay elevation but make sure that it will allow for good drainage if the driveway goes uphill. Seal coating This is a very important asphalt maintenance tool that will help to extend the life of the asphalt paving. The coating usually consists of a mixture of mineral fillers, emulsified asphalt, water, and other admixtures. During this process it will seal the top of the asphalt driveway to help prevent water from penetrating the surface of the driveway. It also helps to protect the top lay from wear caused by sun exposure and oxidation. This seal coating give you driveway a smooth, even black surface. For new asphalt paving it should be applied every six-twelve months and after a couple of years it can be applied every three-five years. Speed bumps This asphalt maintenance does not apply to home driveways but if you have a business you may have speed bumps to help prevent speeding in your parking lot. Most are twenty-four inches wide and three inches high. To help ensure that they are visible at night they should be painted a solid color or striped with white or yellow paint that glows in the dark. The speed bumps need to be maintained so that this paint is always there to warn drivers about the speed bumps.
If homeowners maintain their driveways doing asphalt maintenance it will help to cut back on repairs and replacement. This article is penned by Lora Davis for Poor Paul's Paving. Poor Paul's Paving are top asphalt paving contractors. Whether it comes to maintenance, sealcoating, or other tasks, the company is the favored asphalt paving contractors for you. If you need driveway maintenance in Austin or asphalt paving in Austin, TX just call 512-940-1765.