Should You Use Crack Sealing or Filing to Repair Asphalt Cracks? is it 1 good decision?

Should You Use Crack Sealing or Filling? Even though asphalt pavements are incredibly durable, even the most professionally paved asphalt will crack sooner or later. Unfortunately, unrepaired cracks can shorten the life of your asphalt pavement. Water seeping through cracks can cause so much damage to the foundation that the only way to fix the problem is to remove and rebuild the pavement.

Water is an issue in and of itself, but the trapped water will freeze in the winter, and the expanding ice will exacerbate the damage. However, many property managers and business owners are unsure whether to hire a professional asphalt contractor for crack sealing or crack filling.

Is Asphalt Crack Sealing and Sealcoating the Same Thing?

Although seal coating is also known as asphalt sealing, asphalt crack sealing is not the same as seal coating. Sealcoating is considered a preventative maintenance treatment by most asphalt paving contractors, whereas crack sealing and crack filling are considered restorative routine maintenance tasks.

In other words, seal coating is used to prevent cracks from forming on the asphalt pavement, whereas filling and sealing are used to fix cracks that have already formed.

What Is the Difference Between Asphalt Crack Sealing and Asphalt Crack Filling?

Crack sealing and crack filling — both of these terms are pretty much identical, and either procedure can fix a crack so that water does not enter the pavement. That said, there are some differences between the two, the most important of which is that both restorative routine maintenance procedures use different products.

Asphalt crack sealer is a tough, malleable material that can expand or contract in response to temperature changes and stresses without splitting from the pavement. This is a crucial consideration for asphalt pavements that are regularly subjected to extreme temperature fluctuations and heavy traffic.

On the other hand, asphalt crack filler hardens and becomes inflexible as it cures. Because asphalt filler cannot flex in response to the actions of the pavement, the bond between the filler and the pavement can be easily broken, allowing water to penetrate the pavement.

Think of crack filling as a temporary repair method and crack sealing as a more permanent solution.

Which Asphalt Crack Repair Method Is Better?

Most professional asphalt paving contractors offer both cracks sealing and filling services. They will first inspect your asphalt pavement to determine the amount of the damage before recommending which of the two options is best for you. They will also want to know if a crack is active or inactive.

Asphalt crack filling is not commonly used to fix active cracks because it cannot move when the pavement moves. However, asphalt crack sealing can be used to fix practically any type of crack. Although crack sealing may be more expensive initially, it is often more cost-effective in the long run — you may never need to have the same crack sealed again. This is not the case with crack filling, where you may end up having the same crack filled year after year for the life of the pavement.

It is worth noting that any repair that prevents water penetration is preferable to no repair. In other words, even a temporary repair today can help you avoid more extensive and expensive repairs tomorrow.

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

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