Inevitably, every asphalt pavement will develop at least a few cracks. Naturally, you want to do everything you possible can to keep minimize the number and severity of any cracks that form. You should also be proactive about repairing cracks as soon as it is feasible to do so. However, you might not realize that asphalt crackfilling in Chicago is often not the best repair method.
What Is the Problem With Asphalt Crackfilling in Chicago?
Strictly speaking, asphalt crackfilling uses a material that is inflexible and rigid after it cures. When the pavement contracts in cold weather, the crackfilling cannot do the same. The filler may crack, or it may come unglued from the pavement. If the filler loses its bond, it may leave an opening for water to enter. In some cases, the contracting pavement may force the material out, or the tires of vehicles may knock it out of the crack.
What Is a Better Alternative to Asphalt Crackfilling in Chicago?
Given the area’s typically severe weather, asphalt crack sealing is a safer, longer-lasting crack repair method. Hot crack sealing uses a rubbery, flexible material that can move with the pavement. There is little chance that a professionally applied hot rubber crack repair will break its bond with the pavement.
Is Asphalt Crack Sealing More Expensive Than Filling?
Initially, it costs a bit more to seal a crack than to fill it. However, the asphalt industry considers hot crack sealing to be a permanent repair in most instances. Crack filling is not a permanent repair, so you may have to repeat the procedure several times over the course of your pavement’s life. Therefore, if you look at the lifetime cost, crack sealing is often more economical in the long run.
Is It Possible to Prevent Asphalt From Cracking?
No matter what you do, asphalt can crack from age and normal wear and tear. However, there are ways to keep the number and size of cracks at a minimum. Periodic applications of sealcoating can be highly effective at preventing cracks. So can keeping your pavement clean, enforcing limits on vehicle weights, and having a professional remove accumulations of ice and snow.
Can a Chicago Contractor Make an Asphalt Crack Repair in the Winter?
As you know, the winters in Chicago can vary a great deal from one year to the next. Therefore, it is possible that a contractor might find an occasional day or two on which to make a crack repair. It may also be possible to make a temporary repair with a cold-pour filler. However, permanent repairs are usually impossible for the following reasons.
1. Snow and ice on the pavement will make it virtually impossible to make any sort of an effective repair.
2. Most asphalt crack repair materials require temperatures within a narrow range. Traditional materials for asphalt crackfilling and sealing require a temperature of at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. In cold weather, the cracks will be at their narrowest. Although this may sound like a good thing, it is not. It will make it difficult or impossible to prepare the void properly and insert a sufficient amount of filler. If you seal it, then you may have a problem when the crack expands in the summer.
Since 1975, Black Hawk Paving has been providing exceptional paving services throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Our services include hot crack sealing, asphalt milling, site grading, asphalt paving, sealcoating, concrete flatwork, asphalt repairs, concrete curbing, excavations, car stops, sewer repair, pavement markings, concrete flatwork, traffic signs, and asphalt fabric. We have an exemplary reputation for service, craftsmanship, and professionalism. For a free quote, call 708-479-0400, submit our online form, or email Info@BlackHawkPaving.com.
