Studies show that preventative asphalt maintenance is six to ten times more cost-effective than simply letting asphalt age uninterrupted (Minnesota Technology Transfer Center 2000).
That said, there are three types of maintenance for asphalted surfaces; preventative is just one kind. There’s also corrective asphalt maintenance and emergency asphalt maintenance. Whereas preventative maintenance includes surface treatments to delay wear and cracking, corrective maintenance fixes slight problems, such as a loss of friction, rutting, or cracking. These two types of maintenance extend asphalt life. They cost a relatively minor amount of money now, but prevent a great deal of expense by keeping pavement driveable for longer.
They also help prevent the need for some kinds of emergency asphalt maintenance, which can be quite costly. Some emergency asphalt maintenance can’t be avoided, as after a large storm or vehicular accident. Other types, though, can largely be prevented. For example, if corrective maintenance is performed in time, cracks don’t become large, dangerous potholes that need immediate attention.
What, then, constitutes a preventative asphalt maintenance program? There are two parts. First: prevent unnecessary damage. Of primary importance is keeping the surface clean. Asphalt is held together with asphalt cement, which is derived from petroleum. This means it’s sensitive to other petroleum-derived products, such as gasoline and oil. If a residence has oil spilled on its driveway, it’s best to clean that oil immediately, before it has a chance to seep in and damage the asphalt. Similarly, municipalities usually have schedules for road sweeping to ensure plants aren’t able to grow up along the edges of streets, further compromising the integrity of the asphalt with their growing roots.
The second part of preventative maintenance includes various kinds of sealing to repair or fill. Entire road surfaces can also be sealed with a double-chip or slurry material, or they can be microsurfaced. Potholes can be patched. Each one of these options is designed for a particular type of road based on asphalt age, wear level, anticipated traffic, and the expected temperatures and weather hazards. For example, a road in the desert West will require different asphalt maintenance than one in that is constantly salted and plowed in the winter.
The aim of a cost-effective asphalt maintenance plan is to do the right repair, on the right road, at the right time to keep the roadways safe.
What We Have to Offer
Are you looking to create a maintenance plan for your driveway or parking lot? You came to the right place! Pro Drive Asphalt Maintenance does work all throughout Northwest Indiana. Give us a call at (219) 324-4755, and we’ll be happy to give you a free quote for your project!