Pittsburgh, PA, enjoys all four seasons, but with these seasons come temperature changes. The cold weather, rain, and heat take a toll on the roads and pavement causing them to weaken. Water seeps under the pavement. The freeze and thaw cycles of the water cause the pavement to expand and contract and, combined with traffic, eventually cause potholes and cracks to form. If these potholes are not repaired on time, they become a safety hazard as they can lead to further degradation of the asphalt pavement with the risk of accidents and damage to vehicles.
At The Pavement Group in Pittsburgh, PA, experts are available for consultation to help guide you on repairing the potholes in your asphalt pavement efficiently and effectively. However, it is crucial to note that quick fix repairs are not the way to go.
Simply filling the pothole with fresh asphalt will not do the trick, as this is a temporary solution. The part between the old asphalt and new asphalt will become the weakest part of the road, and the pothole will reappear. The right way to repair potholes and cracks in asphalt pavement consist of the following steps:
1. Clean the Pothole or Crack:
The pothole or crack needs to be cleared of any rock, dirt, or debris using shovels or rakes. Cleaning will remove the larger pieces of stone or asphalt debris. For finer material, you can use pressure water or pressurized air to blast the pothole clean. Cleaning is an essential process as it enables the new asphalt to bind with the original layer of the road.
2. Measure the Pothole or Crack:
After cleaning the pothole or crack, measure the depth and length to get a good idea of the repair quantity.
3. Repair and Fill the Cracks:
Fill the cracks with a liquid crack sealer. Before using a crack sealer, these cracks will need to be cleaned. Crack sealing should be limited to ¼” to 1” in width only. Therefore, if the cracks in your parking lot are larger, they may need to be cut or milled out, then patched with a hot mix. If this is not in the budget, you may be able to fill these cracks with hot, or cold mix asphalt.
4. Repair the Pothole:
For a long-lasting repair of a pothole, you need to deep patch the asphalt pavement. Deep patching entails removing the top four inches or more of asphalt to repair the pothole. The pavement may require water drainage before filling the patch in. The next step is to fill hot-mix asphalt into the patch.
When potholes or cracks form in asphalt pavement, it is wise to nip the problem in the bud. Follow the steps above to repair your asphalt pavement for a long-term solution.
Contact The Pavement Group for professional asphalt paving services in Pittsburgh, PA. Get in touch for a free quote.