The harsh sunlight is as unforgiving for asphalt as they are for your skin. It can cause extensive damage to your surface. Thus, it is imperative to consider your local climate when selecting the right material for your pavement.
K&L Industries offers quality paving and maintenance solutions, including seal coating in Canby and all over the US. Click here to get your free quote now.
Asphalt is a popular material around the world – it is inexpensive, highly recyclable, and durable. However, it is susceptible to damage from a variety of factors, including harsh sunlight, which is why it needs regular asphalt maintenance and repair.
Five ways heat and sunlight can damage asphalt
- Oxidation: Oxygen coupled with sunlight kicks off a chemical reaction that breaks down the asphalt bindings. UV radiation results in the light oils in the asphalt to combine with the heavier oils, which reduces the amount of binding oils in the pavement. Oxidation results in cracking and raveling of the asphalt surface.
- Fading: Prolonged exposure to UV rays from the sunlight can cause a blacktop to fade into an aged, worn-out light grey.
- Drying out: Direct sunlight can dry out the oils in the asphalt pavement, leaving it dry and brittle. Thereby making it susceptible to cracking and crumbling under the weight of traffic.
- Tracking: While asphalt can withstand hot temperature. Extremely high summer heat can cause the top layer of the asphalt to soften to the point where small flecks of asphalt stick to tires, shoes, and anything else that is moving across the surface.
- Raveling: A common and easily preventable type of asphalt pavement failure – raveling – is the dislodgement of aggregate particles due to the loss of binding. This issue spreads across the layers and results in depressions, uneven settling, and worse.
Once the damage is sustained, the only possible solution is to invest in repairs before the pavement distresses and deterioration gets worse, leaving you with no other solution but to resurface. However, all of this can be avoided through preventive maintenance.
Four preventive measures for extra protection
- Asphalt sealcoating: The asphalt surface is coated with an emulsified asphalt solution containing anti-oxidation additives to restore the appearance of the asphalt pavement and provide protection against UV damage.
- Slurry Seal: The slurry seal is similar to a seal coat, with one addition – aggregate is also added to the emulsified asphalt solution to fills in any chips and cracks.
- Microsurfacing: Microsurfacing is a step-up on the slurry seal It has chemical additives mixed into the solution so it can harden without external heat and much faster than a standard slurry seal (in 1 to 2 hours).
- Tire Rubber Modified Surface Seal: In this method, asphalt binders are mixed with ground tire rubber to replenish the asphalt surface with the lost surface oils and prevent loose aggregate from eroding.
Are you looking for long-lasting paving solutions in Canby? Do you need cost-effective repair to be done on your asphalt pavement? Contact K&L Industries or click here to get your free quote now.
