“Are the cracks in my parking lot worth worrying about just yet, or should they be repaired right away?” This is a question we get a lot as an experienced Southeast MI asphalt parking lot repair company. that go unrepaired can turn into financial and legal liabilities, but we can tell you when it’s time to patch them.
Here are some of the more serious asphalt cracking patterns you don’t want to see in your parking lot. If you see these cracks, contact one of our asphalt parking lot contractors as soon as possible.
Common Types of Asphalt Cracking Include:
1. Edge Cracking
As their name implies, these types of cracks form along the outer edge of a lot or road. Mainly due to a lack of support at the pavement edge or poor drainage conditions, edge cracking can become even more of an issue as traffic drives over the lot and freeze/thaw cycles occur. Our team will need to repair any edge cracking so the expansion of other related damage can be avoided.
2. Alligator Cracking
Yes, does resemble alligator scales. If you see alligator cracking in your parking lot, you’ll need to contact one of our asphalt repair contractors as soon as possible.
Alligator cracking usually means the foundation of your parking lot is significantly damaged. This happens when asphalt cracks and potholes go unrepaired, allowing water to seep into the foundation. Most parking lots with alligator cracking end up needing to be replaced because of damaged foundations.
3. Block Cracking
As asphalt ages and is met with temperature changes or other environmental conditions, it loses a bit of its flexibility. Harder asphalt that’s begun to shrink then may crack in a way that results in large rectangles. Fortunately, any cracks that are closer to the surface can be solved with filling and sealing, but anything deeper may require replacement as those cracks can affect the structural integrity of the asphalt pavement.
Cracks Over & Under 1 Inch Wide: What to Do
It is recommended that you hire our team to that are over 1 inch wide. If you allow cracks to go unrepaired, water can seep into the foundation and freeze. As water freezes, it expands and pushes against the surface of your asphalt parking lot.
When this trapped ice thaws, it contracts and leaves behind an empty space that weakens your pavement. Bottom line: a parking lot with foundational damage is more likely to develop cracks and potholes over time.
To maintain the appearance and function of your asphalt parking lot, hire us as soon as you notice damage. We offerparking lot crack fillingand other services so your pavement lasts as long as possible.
Read More → 5 Reasons to Repair Your Asphalt Parking Lot
For asphalt cracks under 1 inch wide, you may be able to do the repair by yourself. However, if you notice a lot of small asphalt cracks, it might be easier to give us a call. We offeras one of our services and will be more than happy to help.
Most home improvement stores sell tubes of asphalt patch products. Follow these generic steps to repair asphalt cracks:
- Wait for a day with no rain in the forecast for at least 24 hours.
- Clear crack of dirt and vegetation with a screwdriver, trowel, or other similar tool.
- Wash asphalt crack out with a garden hose or pressure washer.
- Let the crack dry.
- Cut the top of the tube's spout so the width is smaller than the crack you want to fill.
- Fill cracks so they’re level with surrounding asphalt.
- Smooth out asphalt patch product.
- Let dry for 24 hours.
- If necessary, apply a second coat of asphalt patch product.
Fixing a small crack in your asphalt parking lot can be completed in a weekend. However, you can also contact one of our contractors to fix your parking lot in no time.
If you manage several commercial properties, you will want to take advantage of our parking lot maintenanceservices. That way, you’ll be able to extend the lives of your commercial properties for years to come.
Parking Lot Repair vs. Replacement
Asphalt can last up to 20 years with proper maintenance. This means filling cracks and potholes in your asphalt parking lot as soon as they appear. Yet, all the maintenance in the world won’t prevent the inevitable once your parking lot reaches old age. Call our asphalt parking lot contractors to get your free estimate for pavement replacement.
Keep in mind that you may also have to replace your asphalt parking lot prematurely if you or the previous owner neglected maintenance. Our asphalt contractors will be able to evaluate the condition of your parking lot to determine whether parking lot repair or replacement would be more appropriate.
Call for Asphalt Repair
Ourasphalt parking lot contractors serving Southeastern Michigan can repair asphalt cracks as soon as they appear. Torequest a free estimate for asphalt parking lot repair, call Allied Construction at (248) 625-9581.
This blog post has been updated.