Considering crack sealing, what are your options?

Crack sealing is placing an adhesive sealant into the visible gashes and cracks on your pavement or driveway to prevent moisture, solid materials, and other elements from getting into the cracked pavement and causing bigger problems like potholes.

Crack sealing is applied to working cracks usually greater than 0.1 inches. Since a rubberized cracks sealant is used, it seals the crack and stays flexible with the pavement’s movement. Crack sealants are used on active cracks that tend to expand in size over time and increase the pavement’s longevity. But the trick comes in identifying whether your pavement needs crack sealing or it can last a while longer.

Deciding if your pavement is a candidate for Crack sealing

The type of cracks will determine if you need Crack sealing. The types of cracks are classified as;

• Transverse cracks- caused by thermal shifts, they extend perpendicularly to the centerline or pavement laydown. They are usually the first to appear.
• Longitudinal cracks- caused by poor lane join construction or shrinkage. They run parallel to the centerline or laydown of the pavement and appear after transverse cracks.
• Edge cracks- caused by seasonal thaw cycles causing widening and deepening of the crack. They usually appear between the edge of the pavement and the concrete curbs.
• Seam cracks- caused by poor paving and develop along joints of the pavement.
• Block cracks- caused by improper construction of base courses or inadequate drainage. They develop in square pieces set far apart and appear at the end of pavement life.
• Alligator cracking- caused by asphalt deterioration from repeated traffic. Alligator cracks appear as extensive interconnecting cracks close together, resembling an alligators’ skin.

Consider including other preservation treatments like cheap seals, HMA overlays, among other seals. After you have finished the Crack sealing process, you’ll have to give it two weeks to cure before applying any treatment on top. Depending on the job, Crack sealing your pavement prolongs its service life for one or nine more years.

When Crack sealing, use routing equipment to expand the cracks and create a reservoir for the crack sealant to settle in; this allows the rubber to adhere correctly to the pavement. You then clean out the cracks and install the adhesive crack sealant.

Things to consider crack sealing

You always want a complete seal. There are numerous methods of crack seal placement, from flush fill, overband, reservoir to a combination. Always fill from the bottom up using the right wand tip. If you plan to have an overlay soon, you should go with the flush fill configuration as it sits flush with the pavement.

If cracks are close to the edge, use an overhand because it covers and waterproofs the crack. An overhand is preferred for cracks with a significant deterioration since it fills the crack and fully covers those sections near the edges.

If you plan on having an overlay within the same season as the Crack sealing, you can use a recessed reservoir set lower than the rest of the pavement. When crack sealing, the sealant will cool and shrink; fill the crack ¾ at first, then finish off after it has cooled.

You can also fill the cracks to the expected height, then come back and fill the sags after completing. If the pavement you’re crack sealing is sloping, a higher viscosity sealant will control the flow and sagging.

Address

Commonwealth Paving, 136 Outerloop, Louisville, Kentucky 40214
Phone: 502-459-7283, Fax: 502-456-2678

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