Vital Information About Asphalt Patching

By Lana Bray


Asphalt patching entails pavement crack sealing, re-carpeting of highway surfaces, potholes, sealing holes in roofs and water storage tanks. Compared to cold patch, hot patch are preferred because of their permanency. Sidewalks and airport runways surfaces can also be sealed using this type of patching.

Just like cement concrete, asphalt is a mixture of aggregates of different sizes and mixtures all bonded by one petroleum by products. The mixture includes gravel of different sizes, sand, stone dust depending on where it is to be placed. Asphalt is strong but weak points start showing due to continuous prolonged exposure to sun rays. It can degrade as a result of chemicals percolating in.

Cold patching is economical and ideal for small areas. After digging out a hole, the hole is cleaned with a high pressured air. It is then primed at high pressures and the mixture placed into the hole. Finally, the mix is either tamped or rolled into desired compaction. Compaction is done by a flat roller or a tamper. Tamper is either hand operated which is either gas or air operated.

Since hot mix patches are meant to be more permanent compared to cold patches, more preparation is needed. In the first step the worker digs out the hole using a shovel and pick or a pavement breaker. The hole is dug into uniform lengths of about five inches.

The dug hole is pressure aired so as to be clean. Later, broken stones of different sizes are placed and inter locked and tamped up to the desired depth. Priming then follows where hot prime is sprayed over the area. The hot mix is same level as the adjacent pavement.

Water proofing is also a major function of asphalt. This is done when repairing leaking roofs or repairing a leaking water reservoir. These repairs are encouraged to be done during summer as opposed to winter. This is because it tends to break when placed during the cold season. Trending around the hole on the roof should be done with great care.

Driveways and pavements should be sealed regularly so as to prevent their surfaces from becoming rough and develop cracks. This ensures minimal damage and little operation and maintenance costs. A professional contractor is hired to undertake these operations and maintenance work.

A well equipped contractor with a sound financial base and a good history should be considered. Also to put into considerations are the charges, capacity to mobile machinery and equipment. Inquire from former clients about job performance. Check if he has qualified staff to undertake the work. Check on the previous work done and the extent to which they were done in terms of quality.

Asphalt patching is widely used on walkways, sideways, hanger, runways, water proofing, sealing holes on roofs. This is because it makes surfaces more permanent compared to other coating methods. It has safety and help save money. If well done, the coat will last thus further reducing repair costs. It can easily be redone making surfaces to last longer.




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