Having a crisp layer of asphalt on your property, whether it’s residential or commercial, can be extremely beneficial. A beautiful driveway can increase the value of your home, while a clean and well-maintained parking lot can make a great first impression on customers and potential clients. To keep your asphalt surface in peak condition, you can opt for either asphalt crack filling or resurfacing. In today’s post, we go over the difference between the two practices, so you can decide what’s best for your property.
Many people think that asphalt resurfacing and asphalt crack filling are the same things. They are not. Asphalt Sealing is performed by cleaning the existing asphalt surface and applying a thin coat of hot liquid asphalt (like molasses in temperature). A small number of stone chips are then placed onto the new asphalt before it cools to ensure that there will be no ‘tracking’ of the material. Asphalt Resurfacing is done by patching holes or cracks, then applying a thin coat of new asphalt. Because it is not thick enough to accept stone chips, the resurfaced asphalt will need to be patched within one year due to ‘tracking’.
Asphalt Crack Filling
When asphalt is sealed, it adds up to 3 tons per yard of new material to your driveway or parking lot while simultaneously sealing any existing cracks in the asphalt. The longer you wait between sealings, the more important and beneficial this process becomes. If you don’t protect your investment with a fresh layer of sealer every three years to five years, your asphalt will become ‘bald’, and the sunlight will reflect up through the cracks in the surface. The result is buckling or curling of your hot-top layer, which leads to serious safety problems.
Asphalt Resurfacing
If your driveway or parking lot is beginning to look bumpy, it may be time for an asphalt resurfacing. This process involves patching any cracks or holes in the surface, then adding a new top layer of hot-mix asphalt. Resurfacing is less expensive than sealing because it does not require the extra material to cover up existing surfaces. However, this will allow your driveway or parking lot to remain ‘bald’ by allowing light to reflect up through your top layer, leading to safety problems.
Resurfacing also does not prevent the surface from cracking in the future. The new asphalt is a thin film on top of your existing driveway, making it more likely for significant cracks and potholes to form within a year or two of your resurfacing. You should expect to have your asphalt resurfaced every five years to keep it looking smooth and new.
When asphalt does wear down, there are essentially two options: Asphalt Sealing or Asphalt Resurfacing, which of the two you choose depends on the severity of damage done to the asphalt. Asphalt Sealing is used to preserve the surface, whereas resurfacing changes the asphalt completely.
Asphalt Sealing
Let’s talk about asphalt sealing. This treatment coats the existing pavement with strong binder chemicals to protect it from moisture penetration. The purpose of sealing the asphalt is to prolong its life in which case you would not need to resurface. It’s important to note that sealing also helps blend any existing cracks in the parking lot or road with the sealer, making it look better aesthetically speaking.
Resurfacing is a bit more expensive than sealing because it changes the top layer of asphalt, which is a lot more work. Resurfacing creates a new layer on top of the old asphalt, essentially making it look like new pavement. Unlike sealing, resurfacing removes all the material in the affected area until only about two inches remain. The rest is taken away and replaced with new asphalt materials.
The Cost
Both Asphalt crack filling and Asphalt Resurfacing will help prolong the life of your parking lot or road and make it look better, but they do different things and come with different price tags. Sealcoating costs about $2 per square foot for large areas, whereas resurfacing runs up to $12 per square foot for larger areas of asphalt.
If cost is not a factor and you want to maintain the original look of your parking lot or driveway, resurfacing is the best option. If you just want to prolong the life of your asphalt, seal coating is a cheaper and practical choice. Resurfacing is generally chosen for aesthetic purposes because it completely changes the look and feel of asphalt, whereas sealing preserves an already existing surface.
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