What is it?
Crack Sealing is the process of using hot rubberized seal to seal cracks in the asphalt surface. This is an excellent method of treating cracks between ¼” and 1” wide. Anything smaller than ¼” is too narrow for the rubberized seal to penetrate, and anything larger than 1” is highly susceptible to further movement and separation so crack sealing will provide a very short-term solution. A layer of seal coat is always recommended after crack sealing to protect the rubberized seal from the elements.
Why is it important?
Cracks are what asphalt nightmares are made of. They allow water and other liquid chemicals to penetrate beneath the pavement’s surface, weakening the base and subgrade, and leading to raveling, asphalt failure, and more costly repairs. Sealing these cracks with hot rubberized seal will assist in the protection of the subgrade from further water damage and delay the need for more extensive work, but is not a true fix.
What do I need to know?
- Crack seal will not be level with your asphalt surface – the rubberized seal will settle into place as it cools. This settling results in lower lying channels on the pavement
- Crack seal will show through seal coat – as it is a different and darker substance than seal coat, it will be visible through the newly sealed surface
- Cracks will re-emerge – asphalt is always moving to some degree as it expands and contracts with changes in temperature and amount of traffic. Your pavement surface will still need to relieve pressure after crack seal and cracks can reopen or widen
- Crack seal is not a permanent solution – sealing cracks is an excellent way to preserve your asphalt surface until it is more feasible with your time or budget to undergo more extensive renovations
When do I need to do it?
If you’re seeing cracks in the early stages (< ¼”), now is a good time to set a calendar reminder to check on them monthly so you can act quickly and give us a call if you’re noticing them grow over time. If you’re in the ¼”-1” range, give us a call and we’ll get to work before they get worse. If you’re cringing while reading this because you know you’re over the 1” range, give us a call anyways and we can go over a list of options for you that’ll fit your timeline and budget.