One of the most frequently used areas of your commercial property is the paving, you use it in your entryway, your parking areas, your outdoor walking tracks, and even indoors, but they are frequently overlooked until they stain or crack. It’s essential to give them the attention they deserve by completing repairs as soon as possible. Not only can you extend the life and appearance of your paving, but you can also save money in the long run.
Consider the following six guidelines for proper asphalt paveway maintenance:
6 Tips to Maintain New Asphalt Paving
If done right, your asphalt driveway can last up to twenty years! To improve and adequately maintain, follow the simple tips below!
1. Let the Asphalt Settle in Before You Use it.
The first rule is pretty simple; you need to let your asphalt dry gradually before allowing foot and vehicle traffic on your new pavement. Asphalt needs time to harden and cure; until then, it is soft and susceptible to easy damage. It is advised to wait at least 24 hours before driving on your new surface; in the off chance that you are experiencing hot weather, you should wait at least 2-3 days.
2. Clean the Pavement and Remove Debris Regularly
Gravel and debris are sure to pile onto your pavement over time. Unless you clean away the gravel and debris, it can cause damage over time, particularly if it accumulates within cracks of your asphalt. Regularly swelling your pavement can remove harmful elements in the pathway and help your asphalt maintain its durability.
3. Regularly Seal the Asphalt Pavement and Fill Cracks
Your asphalt paving can deteriorate under external environmental effects such as sun, rain, and snow. You can stop these elements from damaging your pavement by seal coating it. This will essentially allow for successful prevention against oxidation from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Sunlight can lead to hardening your asphalt and turning it brittle, but seal coating can prevent this from happening.
Similarly, if your asphalt pavement has cracks, this can lead to increased damage in the scenario that water runs through the cracks and weakens your pavement. By filling in cracks, you can prevent this from happening.
Crack sealing and crack filling are commonly used strategies to extend your asphalt pavement’s life, sometimes done in conjunction with one another. Seal coating itself is generally recommended to be done every two to three years to protect your pavement.
4. Prevent Potholes by Filling Them in with Gravel
Potholes are holes in your pavement that are generally formed when groundwater enters the ground under the pavement, expanding and contracting over and over. As a result, your pavement will weaken, and the potholes will continue to grow bigger. To successfully tackle this, you must fill potholes as soon as they begin to form.
5. Correct any Drainage Problems
As mentioned earlier, the water accumulating in and around your asphalt surface will impact its durability. You must ensure that you have a sound drainage system in place as a good drainage system will not only help remove water fluctuation but will also help you keep the asphalt road set.
You must also make sure you do not allow any water to stay standing on your asphalt driveway. Standing water can seep into your asphalt foundation, weakening it along the way and making it susceptible to cracking, potholes, indentations, etc. By improving drainage options, you can ensure that water is properly directed away from your building to the proper channel. (As an extension of this, you should also remove any snow and ice accumulating on your pavement).
6. Remove Weed Growth
Weeds are not foreign, you will find them sprouting out in your pavement, and they can get out of hand if you aren’t properly removing them. These weeds not only diminish the look of your pavement but also cause damage to the surface of your pavement. You should see to the timely removal of any weeds in your asphalt surface and patch up any asphalt cracks to prevent other weeds from growing.
That’s all! One of the most important steps is to be on the lookout for any potential cracks or damage to your asphalt pavement surface; carrying thorough inspections can help you uncover these weak spots and prevent further damage. After all, prevention is a whole lot easier!
