Crackfilling

Crack Sealing

As asphalt pavement ages, cracks will begin to appear. These cracks should be addressed before any surface treatment is started. Crack sealing is one of the best early preventive maintenance measures to prolong asphalt life.Working cracks 1/4 inch and wider should be sealed. There is very little benefit in sealing “alligator” or fatique-type cracks, as these usually indicate base failure.

Prior to sealing, cracks must be dry and thoroughly cleaned with a high pressure air compressor. A hot-applied, rubberized crack sealing compound is pumped directly into the cracks. A “V” shaped rubber squeegee is then used to spread the material tight to the surface in a process known as “overbanding”.

Due to the high elasticity of the crack sealant, the resulting repair expands and contracts with the pavement helping keep water out of the base.