You want your asphalt parking lot or driveway to last decades. How do you ensure that it lasts as long as it can? Proper maintenance can extend the life of your paving project - but asphalt maintenance isn’t as tricky as it sounds. Asphalt is affected regularly by weather, heavy loads, oil and many other normal substances it may come in contact with. 

Clean your asphalt.

Remember when your mother said keeping things clean helped them last longer? Well, she was right  - in the case of asphalt at least.  Keep it clear of excess water, and yard clippings.

Prevent cracks and other damages.

Preventative asphalt maintenance is generally planned in advance to seal the surface from water, as well as lessen affects of oxidation and weather.  The easiest technique? Apply a sealant every few years to keep the surface layer of asphalt protected.

Treat cracks and damages.

Cracks and any other forms of damage should be dealt with as soon as you notice them. It may be easy to let them slide a few months, but water entering any small crevices can erode your asphalt from underneath. Fill any cracks, and patch any holes. Notice any divots where water sits - these are also areas that you’ll want leveled out by an expert.

Seal the surface.

Your driveway or parking lot can be sealed a few months after installation as part of regular asphalt maintenance on its own - this can prevent cracks from occurring. If you’ve made any repairs however, this is the perfect time to seal pavement to protect your repairs. A full seal coat protects the entire surface from the elements, oil, and sunlight. You can also choose just to seal cracks or chips to prevent further damage. If your surface is raveling - thinning and becoming rough  - sealing it can restore the look of the pavement, as well as protecting it from deteriorating further.

Overlay

Does your asphalt get a lot of wear? If heavy vehicles or extreme weather are part of the everyday life of your pavement, you may want to consider an overlay. Adding an additional layer of asphalt over what is already existing can strengthen the entire pavement.

Whether you decide to do your own asphalt maintenance or bring in an experienced team, maintaining the life of your paving projects really can be stress free! 

Have a question about asphalt maintenance? Let’s chat! Contact Basic Construction today at (757) 249-3789.

Are you curious about which material is best for your commercial asphalt job? Click here to download our FREE Commercial Asphalt Checklist!