Sunday, December 22, 2013

Restore The Quality Of Driveways With Use Of Asphalt Patching Technique

By Cornelia White


Asphalt is a durable material that will survive for long if proper preventive maintenance is observed throughout its life. If the pavement suffers from cracks, asphalt patching contractors may help repair those defects and preserve the quality of driveways or parking lots. Pavements are patched when the cracks are large but localized, and if they do not spread in many areas of the roads.

Asphaltic pavements suffer progressive deterioration as they age, and this is caused by the changes in the molecular structure of the material. Through the oxidation process, the materials change from its beautiful black appearance. It fades away thus attaining a grayish color. The quality of blacktop also diminishes and unraveling begins.

The patch method is best used in localized repairs. If you have a few areas that need to be restored, then the method may be appropriate. With time, asphaltic blacktop suffers from the effects of sunlight, water, and substances like salt and gasoline products. Ultraviolet rays lead to hardening and unraveling of blacktop material. As the rays heat the surface directly, they accelerate the oxidizing process leading to unbinding of asphaltic material.

The material loses it binding properties and you begin to see small stones on the surfaces. Those stones are usually detached from the blacktop, as the bonding properties are lost. Moreover, water enters through the openings and cracks formed due to heating by ultraviolet rays. Therefore, when the heat causes cracks, water takes advantage and enters the pavements where it settles in subbase layer.

When ultraviolet rays shine on asphaltic blacktop, they heat and dry the surfaces. Because of loss of elasticity, the blacktop begins to unravel and form cracking. Cracks allow water to enter inside making the sub base aggregate materials loose. If water enters the sub base of driveways and parking lots, it causes many damages.

Preventive measures should be done to prevent this from happening. If you have open pavement surfaces from cracks, sink holes, or upheavals, then you need to make sure that they are repaired immediately. The patching process will help restore the good look of the roads and prevent weather elements from causing more troubles. Presence of potholes in roads leads to increased vulnerability to road accidents.

As drivers try to avoid hitting the potholes, they may hit other oncoming vehicles leading to accidents. The owners of premises need to make sure they repair the damaged sections of roads to prevent accidents from occurring. Cold patch is applied on the damaged area without heating it. The ground is first prepared by removing any debris and cleaning it properly to ensure it is dry and free of any loose materials.

The void left behind disintegrates and forms a hole, which makes the parking lots and driveways to deteriorate very fast. The holes continue to crumble down from the edges, and more sections of your road wear out. If it rains, water easily settles down the sub base layer of a driveway. With help of an asphalt patching contractor, you are able to restore the quality of the asphaltic pavements. With timely repairs, you can prolong the life of parking lots and driveways.




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