Easy Maintenance Tips for Your Asphalt Driveway Surface

Image Source: https://www.tandlasphalting.com.au/asphalting-campbelltown/

Asphalt is the highest quality and the most durable driveway construction material. But it can also break down due to constant exposure to severe weather conditions and heavy traffic flow. Without proper care and timely maintenance offered by asphalt contractors in Campbelltown, even the most robustly built surface will show signs of damage and wear and tear. Several reasons are responsible for this, such as oxidation, oil spots, rock salt, tree roots, heavy loads, higher traffic to water, severe weather conditions, etc. The damages caused due to these reasons can be prevented easily with some common steps, and we have discussed them here in this blog post.

TIPS TO MAINTAIN YOUR NEW ASPHALT DRIVE

DRIVE CAREFULLY AND WISELY

How you drive will impact the life and condition of your asphalt construction. For example – if you have the habit of turning your car's wheels while the car is not moving, you will undoubtedly cause more damage, and it will speed up the deterioration rate. Experts from every asphalt company in Sydney add that this will not damage the surface at once, but doing this repeatedly will definitely wear down the surface, and you will have to call asphalt contractors Campbelltown for repair work and maintenance.

KEEP MOISTURE AWAY FROM THE ASPHALT SURFACE

Asphalt is a porous material that allows water to seep in, but the problem is that this water continues to prevail underneath and damage the surface from the inside. As a result, cracks develop and in this situation, only a top-rated asphalting company Sydney can help you. However, you can help yourself by keeping moisture and water away from asphalt material. If you use sprinklers to water your lawn, make sure the water does not point towards the asphalt driveway.

TRY AND KEEP IT CLEAN

This is an obvious step that doesn't even need a mention here. Asphalt contractors in recommend keeping the asphalt surface as clean as possible and free from dirt, debris and other foreign substances. For example – broken glass, twigs, small pebbles, etc., can prevail on the asphalt surface, and when a car runs over them, they damage the asphalt surface a little bit more every time. This damage slowly turns into cracks that eventually become potholes if timely repair work is not performed by asphalt contractors in Campbelltown.

KEEP CHANGING YOUR PARKING SPOT

If your parking lot is made of asphalt, make sure that you don't park your vehicle at one place for too long. The weight of your car can cause permanent depression on the surface, and it can very soon open up and develop into potholes. This applies to vehicles that are parked for most of the time, as their weight can cause depressed areas on the surface that are very hard to handle.

AVOID PLANTS AND VEGETATION

You must not grow trees or plants with an invasive root system, as the roots can reach the asphalt area fast and start damaging it from the inside. This damage can soon become an eyesore, and to prevent this from happening, make sure that plants and trees with deep root systems are planted far from the asphalt surface.

What Mistakes To Avoid While Shortlisting Asphalt Companies?

 

            Image Source:  https://www.tandlasphalting.com.au/asphalting-sydney-cbd/

So many surfaces can be constructed using asphalt as the primary material with the help of asphalt companies in Sydney CBD. The role of the chosen company becomes very crucial, as the team has to ensure that the construction is done as per the laws and specifications given by the client. Hence, choosing one of the best companies for your asphalt project is essential. Often, people compromise on quality just to save some money, but this is a wrong approach, and they must not commit the mistakes discussed in this post.

DO I SERIOUSLY NEED AN ASPHALT CONTRACTOR?

You will mainly have two options for any asphalt construction: DIY project handling or hiring one of the top asphalt companies Sydney CBD. The latter option is a better alternative than handling the project through DIY. The asphalt contractor hired by you will undeniably provide better value and service regarding asphalt construction. The professional will ensure that the project is handled best and that they have what is needed to make informed decisions regarding asphalt projects. They will keep you informed about every decision they take, and most importantly, they will follow your guidelines and specifications.

WHAT MISTAKES TO AVOID WHILE SELECTING ASPHALT COMPANIES IN SYDNEY CBD?

IGNORING EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE

Experience and expertise are the two most prominent features to look for while searching for asphalt companies in Blacktown. Ignoring them would be a huge mistake, and remember, hiring the most experienced professionals will impact your project's outcome, and this will be very clearly visible. Experts recommend choosing companies with over a decade of experience working with asphalt and constructing various surfaces like asphalt paving, driveway, freeways, asphalt car parks, roadways, etc.

NEVER PRIORITISE BUDGET

One more mistake people commit is keeping budget and expenses as a priority while ignoring the quality completely. This is a serious mistake, and you must not choose asphalt companies in Sydney CBD solely based on prices. Remember, low-cost asphalt contractors often cut corners to offer low-price services, but at the same time, they compromise on the quality and quantity of materials, and this can become a potential headache in a couple of years.

Of course, budget is an essential factor, but you must focus only on asphalt companies Blacktown that offer fair and competitive costs that match your budget but, at the same time, reflect their quality of work expertise and materials.

OVERLOOKING INSURANCE AND LIABILITY COVERAGE

It has also been noticed that people overlook insurance and liability coverage to save some money. This is something to avoid because insurance coverage is as vital as the contractor's experience. This will protect you and your property from any unexpected damage or injury caused to the staff during the project. Hence, verifying your contractor's insurance policies before signing the contract is essential. This will ensure that the chosen asphalt companies in Sydney CBD will complete your project safely, with no hidden complications.

Repair Asphalt Cracks Easily Timely Asphalt Patching

            Image Source: https://www.tandlasphalting.com.au/asphalting-penrith/

Investing in good-quality asphalting services in Penrith is essential to keep any asphalt construction in good condition. With timely maintenance and look after, any asphalt construction can stay in good condition for more than 20 years, but a significant stipulation here is timely look after and maintenance. This maintenance has to be done every couple of years, according to asphalt contractors, but I suggest keeping it more frequent, and inspection is something not to be missed out on at all. 

A major issue that any asphalt surface faces is cracks getting developed, and they are not good for the overall health of any asphalt construction. They make way for the water to seep inside, and as a result, the surface begins to deteriorate and eventually break down. Asphalt patching is very useful as far as handling these cracks is concerned.

Top-rated asphalt contractors Penrith recommend taking the following steps upon noticing the cracks on any asphalt surface.

PREPARING THE AREA FOR TOUCHING

As mentioned above, patching is the most effective method to eliminate cracks from any asphalt surface. This patching is done after some preparation work, and the steps are listed below.

Clean the affected area to ensure that the patching material adheres easily

Use a hammer and chisel to remove the broken pieces of asphalt 

Use a wire brush to remove dirt and debris from the crack

After these three steps, you must use a compressed air gun to blow away all the lost debris. Then, a garden hose will be needed to flush out the crack and clean it thoroughly. However, you must ensure that the area is completely dry before patching.

Professionals from asphalt companies in Australia care for their safety by equipping themselves with safety kits like safety goggles and rubber boots.

STEPS TO REPAIR SMALL CRACKS

The first step taken by top asphalt contractors in Penrith is using rubberised asphalt emulsion crack filler to fix small cracks. They ensure that the crack filler is not applied on unaffected areas, as it can stain the driveway. This is why asphalt contractors in Penrith use a caulking gun to apply this fill-up during asphalt services in Penrith.

Now, they use a trowel or a putty knife to smooth these cracks. Rubberised gloves are also effective in levelling the surface in case of their unavailability. Then, you must leave it to dry completely before using the prepared area. This drying will take almost a day or two, and you can use the surface quickly. But the layers beneath the top layer will take nearly two weeks to harden completely. It is recommended not to seal the driveway during this time as this will restrict the air from entering the area to dry the surface.

 

What Makes Asphalt So Preferred Material for Asphalt Contractors?

 
             Image Source:  https://www.tandlasphalting.com.au/asphalting-campbelltown/

A wide range of asphalting services is available to enhance the visual appeal and functionality of asphalt surfaces. Companies and asphalt contractors in Campbelltown ensure that they follow the guidelines and laws to deliver the most stunning services. The level of services these contractors offer is always high, as they hold management service certifications from the following.

• Quality management system to ISO 9001:2015

• Environmental mgmt system to ISO 14001:2015

• OH&S management system to AS/NZS 4801:2001

Let us quickly understand the uses of asphalt and what makes it so versatile for use. But first, we will focus on what asphalt actually is.

WHAT IS ASPHALT?

Asphalt is mainly a durable, black-coloured material used for surface preparation, sealing and other similar tasks. It is also an integral part of the road construction projects. It is primarily black, sticky and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid and, as mentioned above, used in different projects, including asphalt pavement construction.

WHAT IS THE COMPOSITION OF ASPHALT USED BY ASPHALT CONTRACTORS PARRAMATTA?

The best asphalt contractors Parramatta use this material mainly for road resurfacing and constructing motorways nationwide. It is also used in surfacing roads, highways, driveways, parking lots, airport runways, and even roads in high-altitude areas. Using this material means creating a smooth and durable surface for vehicles and humans. Examples of these works include car parks, commercial and domestic driveways, playing courts, motor racing circuits and pedestrian accesses.

WHAT ARE THE USES?

The best asphalt contractors in Parramatta use this material mainly for road resurfacing and constructing motorways nationwide. It is also used in surfacing roads, highways, driveways, parking lots, airport runways, and even roads in high-altitude areas. Using this material means creating a smooth and durable surface for vehicles and humans. Examples of these works include car parks, commercial and domestic driveways, playing courts, motor racing circuits and pedestrian accesses.

RECYCLING BENEFITS

The top USP of asphalt used by asphalt contractors Campbelltown is that this material can be recycled completely. However, this will depend on the make-up of the original road and prevailing environmental standards. Mainly, asphalt contractors in Parramatta offer recycling services as well to ensure that this material has the most negligible impact on nature and the surrounding environment.

Q&A Related To Seal Coating Done By Asphalt Contractors

Image source: https://www.tandlasphalting.com.au/asphalting-campbelltown/

Asphalt has become a critical component of modern infrastructure development. Its correct usage and proper maintenance ensure smooth, durable roads, surfaces, parking lots and driveways. However, this material, asphalt, has some common issues that have to be handled by asphalt contractors in Campbelltown. One of them is seal coating, and people often have multiple questions. We have covered them in this post, along with their answers.

FOR HOW LONG THE SPRINKLERS SHOULD BE KEPT OFF AFTER SEALCOATING?

Asphalt contractors in Parramatta recommend turning these sprinklers off at least two days before the seal coating process and one day after the process has been completed. This is done to prevent the washing away of the seal coat applied by the asphalt contractors Campbelltown. Sprinklers hit the asphalt severely, and as a result, the seal coat wears down prematurely.

WHAT COLOUR IS THE SEALCOAT?

Even the best asphalt contractors in Parramatta recommend black for seal coating or black with blue or grey tint.

WHAT SIZE OF CRACKS CAN BE FILLED WITH SEAL COATING?

Asphalt contractors in Parramatta say that any cracks that are ¼ inch wide or large can be treated using seal coating. This is equivalent to two quarters stacked together.

WHY IS CRACK FILLER NOT FILLED ON THE TOP OF THE DRIVEWAY?

The fact is that the correct crack filler is filled on the top of the cracks and the driveway. The reason is that the proper filler settles into the gap, but the sealer works by keeping the cracks covered, and this is seen on the driveways as well.

WHY IS CRACK FILLER SO SOFT?

The crack filler is prepared using a soft, pliable, rubberised material that can fill cracks that are ¼ inches wide. This crack filler remains soft in summer and can be pulled out of the gaps. Asphalt contractors in Parramatta heat the crack fillers using a propane torch, and it can be pushed back into the crack after heating up completely.

WHAT IS THE LIFE DURATION OF CRACK FILLERS?

According to asphalt contractors Parramatta, the average life of crack fillers is between three months and five years, depending on the weather conditions. The life duration is greatly affected by factors like temperature, frost, snow, wear and tear and the size of the opening.

HOW OFTEN IS SEAL COATING RECOMMENDED?

Asphalt contractors recommend getting seal coating done every three years for better results. But they also add that it is a personal preference, and you can get it done as soon as you feel that the asphalt surface needs it.

Asphalt Overlaying – Keep Your Asphalt Construction New and Shiny

Image source: https://tandlasphalting.com.au/asphalting-castle-hill/

Our ancient history has many incredible builders, from Romans to ancient Greeks, who created marvelous infrastructures. But, the modern-day construction process is entirely different, and it is already expected from the beginning that wear and tear will emerge prematurely. This applies to the asphalt construction, and the owner already books asphalting services in Castle Hill, as he knows they will be required soon. One of these services is asphalt overlaying, and it is used before the complete damage of the asphalt construction that has to be demolished, damaged and built right from scratch. Let us understand the asphalt laying process deeply in this blog.

WHAT SIGNS TELL THAT ASPHALT OVERLAYING IS UNAVOIDABLE?

Every asphalt construction has a life, and it can be prolonged by maintaining it with timely and proper look-after. Asphalt overlaying is also a preventive maintenance step to save a good amount of money. Here are some common signs that it's time to get asphalt overlaying done.

• You strongly dislike your pavement's appearance.

• Your pavement has been neglected for most or all of its life.

• Your pavement has widespread damage.

• You can see obvious signs of pavement distress.

• Your pavement's drainage leaves much to be desired.

Apart from this, if you notice cracks, potholes, surface oxidation, revelling, bleeding and flushing, or worn-out markings on the asphalt construction, you should understand that asphalt overlaying is now mandatory. Signs of ageing and deterioration and water drainage issues are also common indicators of the necessity of asphalt overlaying. Finally, heavy alligator cracks in the asphalt force you to contact one of the best asphalt companies Blacktown for asphalt overlaying.

WHAT IS ASPHALT OVERLAYING?

The process of asphalt overlaying is carried out by top-rated asphalt contractors in Blacktown, and it involves repairing and rejuvenating the existing looks of the surfaces. These surfaces could be asphalt roads, parking lots, asphalt driveways, pavements and even pathways. The process is simple as the experts of asphalting services Castle Hill apply a fresh asphalt layer on the existing layer to improve its appearance, durability and functionality.

WHAT STEPS ARE INVOLVED IN THE ASPHALT LAYING PROCESS?

• Assessment and planning is done after evaluating the condition

• Surface preparation involves debris, dirt and vegetation clearing

• Milling is also required in some cases to remove the specific depth

• Track coat application to help the new layer stick with the existing layer

• Asphalt overlaying installation using heavy machinery like pavers and rollers

• Compactors are used to compress and smooth the new asphalt layer

• Finishing is done to ensure a smooth and even appearance

• Curing and cooling are required, and traffic is stopped for that period

• The next step is pavement marking and striping, and lastly, cleaning up the debris is done to leave the area neat and clean

What Mistakes To Avoid During Driveway Sealcoating?

Image Source: https://tandlasphalting.com.au/asphalting-campbelltown/

If you have one, your property's driveway area is the most expensive part. If constructed using asphalt, it will also be most fragile that demands ongoing maintenance in the form of asphalt services in Campbelltown. Replacing the driveway can be very expensive because, based on the square footage, the cost could be between $5000 and $15000. 

This is why timely seal coating is recommended the most by asphalt laying companies as a preventive maintenance step. It strengthens the driveway and enhances its life significantly. It is expected from homeowners that they refrain from committing the following mistakes that can prove costly for them as well as the driveway.

FREQUENT AND MORE THAN REQUIRED SEAL COATING

Undoubtedly, a fresh coat of sealant on the driveway area will give it a nicer and fresher look. But it can be harmful if used too much or more than required. Since the driveway is not a high-traffic area, it is expected for a layer of seal coating to last for around two years. Some homeowners commit the mistake of getting seal coating done every year. The disadvantage of availing this service yearly from asphalt companies Blacktown is that the underlying seal coating will start flaking off or peeling away. This will eventually influence the integrity and life of the asphalt driveway.

IGNORING REPAIRS BEFORE SEAL COATING

The seal coating process conducted by asphalt contractors in Blacktown aims to protect the underlying asphalt from nature and other elements. It also works by slowing down the oxidation process, but the asphalt driveway must be properly repaired to let it work effectively. In other words, hairline cracks, alligator cracks, potholes, larger cracks, etc. should be repaired before seal coating.

You should not expect seal coating-related asphalt services Campbelltown to take care of the damages already present on the asphalt driveway.

DIY SEALCOATING IS A BIG MISTAKE

We all have this instinct to save money, and for this, homeowners prefer DIY rather than hiring a professional for any requirement. But this should not be done in case of seal coating the asphalt driveway. As mentioned above, the driveway area is an expensive investment and only with the help of asphalt companies in Blacktown you can make it work properly for you and look graceful. These people have decades of experience and expertise to understand the issues to look for and how to fix them before seal coating to make the driveway live longer.