How To Maintain Your Asphalt Pavement

Having asphalt pavement in your driveway or parking lot makes for a great investment. Not only is it easy to maintain, but it is also known to last for as much as 15 to 20 years.

However, this doesn’t mean that you don’t need to do anything to keep it in good shape. If you want to make the most out of your asphalt pavement investment, you need to do proper asphalt pavement maintenance. 

Here are a few simple but helpful tips to increase the lifespan for your asphalt pavement. 

Prevent Water Damage

The number one enemy of asphalt pavement is water. The material is porous, which makes it absorbent. This should be fine in itself, as asphalt pavements are supposed to be able to withstand outdoor conditions, anyway. 

However, water tends to pool, causing sections of the pavement to prematurely wear and tear. In colder areas, water damage can be caused by freezing and the subsequent thawing that comes with it. 

To avoid these problematic scenarios, make sure to put an effective drainage system in your driveway. You can build the driveway on a sloped angle, for example, so that the water will naturally flow down. If the angle isn’t steep enough, at least make sure you have drains or gutters to lead the water away from that level. 

Repair Cracks and Seal the Surface

Asphalt pavements can crack for a variety of reasons. It can be because of natural wear and tear or a heavy item dropping on it. Regardless of how the crack came to be, it’s important that you address it as soon as possible. 

Filling the cracks should help prevent the damage from getting worse. Keep in mind that cracks spread and grow, so you really wouldn’t want to leave it unaddressed.  

It’s also important to seal coat the surface of the asphalt pavement. This process is a great way to prevent oxidation, which damages the asphalt material faster. It also makes the surface more resistant to oil and gas spills, which makes cleaning easier. 

Seal coating should ideally be done periodically. Just be careful not to do it too frequently, otherwise, it can prove counterproductive to the lifespan of the asphalt as well.

Regularly Clean Surface

Regular cleaning of the asphalt surface keeps it looking good and well-maintained for longer. The good thing is that it doesn’t take a lot to clean asphalt pavement. Sweep the ground for any dirt and debris to clear the surface. 

Also, wash the surface to get rid of any grease or oil spills that might stain it. It also makes it much safer that way for everyone. 

With these simple tips, you can make the most out of your asphalt pavement investment for longer. 

Categorised in: Asphalt Pavement