Deciding to perform asphalt repairs on your own is a major decision and therefore, experts say that you’ll have to consider several points before even initiating the process. The top thing to consider is the reason behind the failure of the existing installation. There could be various reasons, but the two most common ones are –
• Damaged by water – The water seeks some ways to penetrate inside the construction and starts loosening it from the inside. As the inner layer gets washed out, the upper layer experiences huge cracks and moisture-laden pieces.
• Damaged by ultraviolet or UV rays – As far as UV rays are concerned, they play havoc by damaging the layer and breaking away the materials used in the construction process.
The Process of Asphalt Repairs
Step 1
• The first step involves removing the base material that has been saturated completely. You’ll require equipment for this and the size of the equipment would generally depend upon the size of the damaged area.
• If the size is small, you can use a skid steer for debris removal, but in other cases, you’ll require bigger machines like mid-sized excavators, etc.
Step 2.
• After evaluating the area and removing the entire debris, you’ll have to give a saw cut to the affected area.
• These cuts are initially made on the popping chalk lines and thereafter, making sure that the cuts are straight.
• With this step, you’ll make sure right from the beginning that the results would be robust and long-lasting.
Step 3.
• Once these saw cuts are made in the perimeter, you’ll have to clean out the asphalt neatly and also other materials from the affected area.
• This removal with give you a fresh base and a proper foundation would be made possible.
• Now, simply replace the area with a new compactable material, such as stone or crush and run.
• It might become important to compact the area, but it’ll majorly depend upon the size and depth of the excavation done for asphalt repairs.
