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It is impossible to prevent asphalt pavement cracks, which are frequently seen in parking <br>lots. Many diverse factors, including differential settling and freeze/thaw cycles, are to <br>blame for them. If you let them go, they'll keep wrecking your parking lot until there's <br>nothing left to do but replace it. In order to extend the life of your parking lot, keep a <br>lead over them.<br>
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Cracks in asphalt paving, which are typically found in parking lots, are unavoidable. They are caused by a variety of things, such as differential settling and freeze/thaw cycles. Allow them to escape and they will continue to damage your parking lot until it can no longer be fixed and needs to be replaced. Maintain a lead over them to prolong the life of your parking lot.
Some cracks can be repaired, while others cannot. The ones that are not are those brought on by pavement structural fatigue, sometimes known as "alligator" cracking. Additionally, if left unattended, the other controllable cracks will probably exacerbate structural fatigue. Therefore, it makes sense to maintain and seal the ones you can in an appropriate manner. Otherwise, cracks will be made and water would seep due to the parking lot's usual expansion and contraction.
Water will freeze inside, leaving a larger aperture for additional water infiltration. Ice will also grow by 9% more than it did while it was liquid. The path to alligator cracking, an indication of a parking lot's structural failure, is further accelerated by all that water, load stress, chemicals, and oxidation from the sun's ultraviolet radiation.
REMAIN SEALED. So, it should go without saying that keeping water out of the base layers of asphalt, where it is most likely to cause damage, is an essential part of a proper parking lot management program. The secret to keeping the water out is an efficient crack sealing method, which Parking Lot Maintenance, LLC (PLM) provides.
Types of options and cracks The type of cracks is the primary determining element as to how, or even if, a crack or fractures can, or should, be adequately sealed because crack sealing is a preventative maintenance strategy. Naturally, the majority should be sealed, but as was already noted, if the fractures are the result of structural failure, a different repair or replacement approach would be more advantageous.
The examination of cracks often considers factors like depth, width, pattern, frequency, etc. These elements will aid the PLM project manager in selecting the best materials and techniques to apply. Hot Rubberized Crack sealing is one of the most popular and most efficient techniques. A hot rubberized crack sealer has a life cycle of 3-5 years as opposed to a cold applied sealer, which normally only lasts 1-2 years. Below is a description of PLM's tried-and-true method for applying hot rubberized crack sealer.
Step 1: Cleaning and drying Cracks need to be dry and clean, devoid of moisture, oils, dirt, dust, asphalt fragments, and other foreign objects to assist the sealant to adhere to the surface effectively. That is accomplished using hot-air lancing and/or routing. PLM often advises routing—or cutting—through the fracture, preferably to a depth that is equivalent to the crack's width. Prior to sealing, a width-to-depth ratio of 1:1 is ideal. Routing aids in creating a smooth, clean surface on which the sealant can cling. In fact, research has shown that the best technique for cleaning and drying the surface before a crack sealing is routing in conjunction with the use of a hot air lance.
However, a hot air lance alone is used since it has the lowest cost and, in fact, the best cost-benefit ratio. A hot air lance will deliver a jet-streamed, high-pressure blast of hot air when heated and compressed air is used, cleaning and drying the crack almost as effectively as when routing is also used. The main elements are obviously heat and high-pressure air.
Step 2: Evaluate it In addition to cleaning and drying the crack, routing, and hot-air lancing also aid in achieving the ideal width-to-depth ratio. The ideal ratio is 1 to 1. Since one inch is the ideal size for a fracture, cracks that are larger than that often begin to perform less well with sealants. In order to fill space and prevent the sealant material from settling too far into the gap, a solid flexible filler known as the backer rod is shoved into major cracks.
Step 3: Heating the Sealer The PLM team will apply the hot rubberized crack sealer in accordance with the installation instructions provided by the manufacturer because several brands of sealers will be utilized according to the specific characteristics of various projects. The application parameters for temperature, mixing, and rate of application are specified in the manufacturer's installation instructions. A double-walled heater is used to heat the material, ensuring that it is heated more evenly and does not scorch. Depending on the manufacturer, the appropriately heated rubberized sealer will probably be between 350 and 375 degrees Fahrenheit when applied.
Step 4: Applying the Sealer The hot rubberized crack sealer material should be applied as soon as the cracks have dried and been cleansed. If not, cleaning and drying would have to be done again. To prevent the crack from sitting too long and gathering more dirt and moisture, the PLM team will clean, dry, and apply in a just-in-time way.
The hot rubberized crack sealer is applied by pumping it via a hose fitted with an appropriate application nozzle. The material can be applied to the crack thanks to the nozzle. Before the material begins to set up, any extra is removed with a squeegee-style instrument. This helps to prevent a surface "edge" from forming, keeping the sealant flush or just below the asphalt surface. If there is an edge, there is a chance that the sealant will chip or be pushed out of the crack by something like a snowplow.
When applied in line with the manufacturer's instructions for material temperature and outside temperature, the majority of hot rubberized crack sealing material will satisfactorily cure in around 15 to 30 minutes. Till the crack sealer is fully cured, the PLM crew will guard the area.
A LONG-TERM PARKING LOT MANAGEMENT PLAN (PLMP) SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. It is time to think about a long-term Parking Lot Management Plan (PLMP) now that your parking lot has been sealed and secured. After all, the parking lot's lifespan has already been significantly extended by the seal coating procedure. Additionally, that life span may be increased.
A well-thought-out and effectively carried out maintenance plan for a parking lot will continue to add life and at the same time minimize the likelihood of inconvenient and expensive repairs, just like with any piece of machinery, building, roof, etc. Parking Lot Maintenance's team has the knowledge and experience to create a practical and affordable PLMP that is especially suited to your requirements.
Several specialized businesses for Parking Lot Maintenance are available in Hamilton and doing and maintaining asphalt crack sealing in Hamilton. For professionally managed sites, their primary services include seal coating, hot rubber crack sealing, asphalt repair, and line striping.
