How Does Regular Maintenance Impact The Longevity of Asphalt Surfaces
Life without asphalt roads sounds unimaginable. As you can imagine, asphalt surfaces like roads and parking lots go through a lot of wear—and without regular pavement maintenance, these surfaces can begin showing signs of potholes and cracks.
Continue reading to learn what can affect the lifespan of asphalt, how pavement maintenance helps prolong its lifespan, and how you can maintain the surfaces with various methods.
The Lifespan Of Your Asphalt Surfaces
Asphalt surfaces are built to endure a lot of weight and force. While built with high durability, they are not invincible. In fact, asphalt surfaces last around 15 to 20 years at most. This is an average estimate, but asphalt’s lifespan can be impacted by certain factors such as weather conditions or traffic volume.
With these factors, the surface takes on more and more wear and tear, resulting in issues like heavy cracking, thus reducing the lifespan of the asphalt. Whether it’s a parking lot, road, or walkway, regular maintenance prevents these issues that result from those elements and allows you to enjoy a durable, reliable asphalt for much longer than expected.
5 Factors Affecting The Longevity of Asphalt Pavement
1. Quality of Installation
To get the longest lifespan out of asphalt, proper installation is key. Each part of the installation process—from proper ground preparation and drainage to material application—can influence the longevity of the pavement.
2. Traffic Volume
While built with high durability, constant exposure to heavy traffic volume and vehicles carrying large loads can quickly wear down asphalt surfaces. This is due to the excess stress and consistent strain placed on the material.
3. Weather Conditions
Beyond simple human influence, asphalt’s worst enemy is mother nature. When conditions turn extremely cold, the material is left brittle and more vulnerable to cracking, while extreme heat can soften the material. Additionally, conditions like heavy precipitation, such as snowfall, can lead to faster degradation.
4. Material Quality
A pavement is only as durable as its materials. If the asphalt mix is made with low-quality materials, it is much more prone to degrading frequently, requiring more costly maintenance to restore it.
5. Preventative Maintenance Practices
Staying ahead of any issues is key to maintaining the reliability of pavement. Methods like sealcoating, crack filling, asphalt overlays, and even the occasional repair can be the difference between long-lasting pavement and costly restoration.
The Benefits of Regular Asphalt Maintenance
While asphalt maintenance may not be on the top of anyone’s to-do list, giving your surfaces the treatment that they need provides a myriad of benefits. From longer-lasting pavement to improved safety, regular asphalt maintenance does it all.
Longer Lifespan
If wear and tear from weather or traffic leaves the pavement riddled with problems, routine maintenance restores the surface and provides it further protection. With methods like sealcoating that protect the surface to crack filling that seals dangerous cracks, you can count on longer-lasting asphalt pavement.
Enhanced Safety
Without routine maintenance, your pavement has hazards like potholes that pop up frequently, risking the safety of anyone using it. Maintaining the condition of the asphalt with routine maintenance keeps the surfaces perfectly safe for those using it.
Smooth Pavement
Nothing beats the sight of smooth and clean asphalt pavement. Routine maintenance keeps your surfaces clean and smooth, allowing a better experience for drivers and pedestrians while also enhancing the curb appeal of your business.
Long-Term Cost Efficiency
Routine maintenance may seem costly, but the cost-effectiveness pays off over time. Delaying minor repairs can lead to higher expenses for major repairs or full replacements. Early interventions, like crack-filling, can prevent issues from escalating and ensure safety while saving you money in the future.
Key Parts of Routine Maintenance
Pavement problems vary. Fortunately, there is a wide range of maintenance methods that keep your pavement smooth, sturdy, and safe:
Sealcoating
Asphalt surfaces get hit with a lot, from the sun’s UV rays to oil and other chemicals—all of which can wear down and destroy the pavement. Sealcoating creates a protective barrier on the asphalt surface, maintaining the structure and preventing issues like cracking.
Striping
While sealcoating provides a durable barrier for your pavement, it also covers over any markings or signs on the surface. That’s where striping comes into play. This maintenance method utilizes striping tools to reapply any pavement markings, ensuring they stay visible to keep every driver or pedestrian safe.
Crack Filling
Cracks in pavement seem common, but they shouldn’t be. Cracks can be a sign of drainage issues, so if they start appearing, you’ll want to take action right away. Leaving cracks alone gives them time to grow and allows water to seep in, resulting in more severe problems like potholes. Crack filling is a great way to seal cracks, minimizing the risk of water intrusion or further cracking.
Pothole Repair
Potholes are the bane of drivers, making any simple drive into an obstacle course. These result from water seeping into cracks in the asphalt. When you first spot potholes forming, it’s time to get a repair before it becomes larger and much more hazardous. Repairing now spares you from an expensive restoration later on.
Pressure Washing
Asphalt can accumulate dirt, debris, and even various chemicals, which can accelerate the degradation of the material. Similarly, concrete surfaces are also vulnerable to buildup that can lead to deterioration over time which is why maintaining your concrete surfaces is just as important as maintaining your asphalt surfaces to ensure longevity and durability. An efficient and effective cleaning method for concrete is pressure washing, as the strong spray can cut through even the most stubborn of grime.
5 Benefits of Pressure Washing Concrete
When you need an efficient and effective cleaning method for your concrete surface, little methods produce high-quality results like pressure washing.
Whether it is making the most of your pavement’s lifespan or getting it ready for other maintenance, pressure washing services get your surfaces looking the way they need to:
1. Prevents Damage
Concrete has to combat a lot of elements, from weather to tires. These elements can leave the asphalt surface littered with dirt, debris, and even chemicals, which can destroy its usability and appearance. Prevent potential damage with pressure washing and clear of even the most stubborn of dirt or chemicals.
2. Improved Safety
When concrete surfaces are covered in moss or algae, they can become slippery, posing a safety hazard for pedestrians and visitors. By implementing pressure washing into your maintenance routine, you can eliminate these risks by thoroughly cleaning and restoring traction to reduce the likelihood of slips and falls occurring.
3. Eco-Friendly Solution
Pressure washing is an environmentally friendly cleaning method that uses high-pressure water to remove dirt and grime, minimizing the use of harmful chemicals. Furthermore, the water can even be captured and reused, further reducing its environmental impact.
4. Promotes Longevity
When dirt and chemicals are left to accumulate on concrete surfaces, it hastens the degradation of the material, resulting in repairs to restore it. Pressure washing avoids this by cleaning off any accumulation before it can cause any sort of wear to the surface.
5. Improves Visual Appeal
If left uncleaned, your concrete surface can become unsightly and prone to more damage. Maintain the visual aesthetic of your concrete with pressure washing. This high-powered cleaning method can help clear off any unsightly dirt or grime, leaving your pavement looking its best.
The Cyclone Advantage
For pressure washing methods, the experts at Blue Curb, LLC change the game with our cyclone machine. This state-of-the-art equipment utilizes a multi-patented cleaning and recovery head that removes large debris buildup in an instant without any worry about damaging the pavement surface. To make power washing even more effective, the cyclone can recover any waste or water, preventing the risk of runoff or discharge.
Pressure Washing Services in Virginia, Maryland, and the D.C. Metro Area
First impressions matter—if your asphalt looks great, your business looks great. For unparalleled commercial asphalt cleaning, contact Blue Curb, LLC. We’re ready to assist clients in Northern Virginia, Western Maryland, and the D.C. Metro Area.
