What is crack filling?
Crack filling is the process of injecting a hot pour rubberized sealant into isolated cracks in the asphalt pavement to prevent water from penetrating the sub-grade and stone base.
Why crack fill?
Crack filling is the most cost-effective maintenance for your pavement. Cracks in asphalt allow water under the pavement which causes the base to become unstable during the freeze thaw cycle. Unstable base leads to more cracking and eventual pavement failure.
When should a parking lot be crack filled?
Can be done throughout the life cycle of a pavement; however, only isolated cracks should be sealed, never alligatored areas.
What time of year should a parking lot be crack filled?
Crack filling season begins in April and ends in November. Crack filling can be completed in the winter months if it is dry. It is best to crack fill going into the winter months when the cracks in the asphalt are as wide as possible. In the colder month’s cracks expand and in the summer months, cracks contract.
How often should a lot be crack filled?
Since this is a maintenance operation, it can be done as often as needed. Pavements on a yearly maintenance and repair plan should budget for this once a year.
Why can’t alligatored areas be crack filled?
When alligatored areas appear in a parking lot it means that water has penetrated the sub-grade layer and the pavement can no longer support the weight of the traffic. Crack filling is not the solution at this stage.
How long does it take the material to dry?
The Crack filling material is applied at 300° F but cools to the touch in minutes. A black silica sand is broadcasted over fresh crack filler to prevent tracking.
Will the crack filling material track into my buildings?
Each section must be secured prior to the start of work. The material will track if it is walked on or driven on before it has dried. During the hot months crack filler softens. The black silica sand helps tracking.
What is over banding?
Over banding is the process of “squee-geeing ‘V injecting a layer of crack filling material over the prepared crack leaving a two to three-inch band of material.
Will sealcoat material stick to crack sealing material?
The two materials will bond but since the crack sealing material is designed to flex through a wide temperature range, the sealer will chip off from the crack seal. Expect a color difference between the two materials.
We had our pavement crack filled and some of the cracks re opened?
That happens due to the freeze thaw cycles in the winter. Cracks may re open. Crack filler is applied hot and squeegeed tightly into crack. When crack filler cools off it expands. Crack filler is flexible and moves with the winter movement. That is why crack filling is a yearly maintenance.
