Protect Your Paved Lots This Winter

Paving Company, Smith's Paving and Sealcoating, discusses tips to get through a Northeast winter

Winter in the Northeast can cause serious damage to your asphalt. Due to the freeze and thaw cycles we experience the blacktop expands and contracts which causes cracking and pot holes. To maintain your blacktop and keep damage to a minimum, it is recommended to fill cracks with a NYSDOT rubberized hot crack sealant. This will help prevent the cracks from getting larger and save you the cost of pothole repairs. 

With regard to potholes, there is a winter mix available which is heated up in a hot box, applied to the potholes and compacted with a vibratory compactor. This is a temporary repair that “gets you through the tough winter months” and can minimize damage to your blacktop and prevent personal injury and vehicle damage.

When the asphalt plants re-open in the spring, the damaged areas should be saw cut and then filled with NYS Approved Type #7 Asphalt and compacted with a vibratory roller. This will stop the potholes from getting bigger, saving you thousands of dollars since you won’t have to replace your whole parking lot or driveway. We also recommend applying hot crack sealing around the perimeter of the repaired area.   
By committing to a regular scheduled maintenance program for your commercial parking lots and asphalt roadways, you can avoid the cost of major asphalt projects. Many blacktop repairs can be filled by milling out the damaged asphalt and replacing it with new asphalt. If the sub-base is compromised, that would need to be repaired also.

It is wise to inspect your catch basin and repair as needed before major damage occurs. Major damage includes replacing the vault and catch basin.

Once again, by establishing a routine maintenance program with Smith’s Paving and Sealcoating in Albany, you can budget for needed repairs, avoid a major blacktop investment, keep your properties safe by avoiding personal injury and vehicle damage and enhance the appearance and value of your property.

So if you are looking for a paving contractor in Albany, NY, feel free to give us a call at 518-266-9526 or you can e-mail us at info@smithspaving.com