Crack-filling, also referred to as crack-sealing or crack repair is one of the most under-used and most effective ways to keep further damage from happening to your pavement. As we all know the Pacific Northwest gets A Lot of rain! Rain is the enemy of asphalt. It can get into the tiniest crack or seam and over time do massive damage to your investment. Once the asphalt cracks (and all lots will acquire cracks) the water that finds the crack will start eroding and removing the sub base causing an uneven base which leads to more cracking. Sealing the cracks and pavement with rubberized asphalt specific crack-filling tar is a very quick and efficient method of helping prevent water erosion to the asphalt. Cracks should be maintained from the first occurrence as tending to the problem early will help prevent further spreading of cracks.
Many contractors use roofing tar, this is a mistake! Roofing tar is for roofs and not meant for asphalt and foot and car traffic. Roofing tar can stick to shoes and be tracked inside buildings and can easily tear right off the asphalt with the turn of a tire.
Execution: Lot will need to be blocked off while crack filling takes place. All cracks are to be cleaned thoroughly and torched to eliminate any dampness so tar has a clean dry surface to adhere to. Tar is then neatly poured and applied into a 3 inch ‘shoe’ that keeps the tar nice and neat. Crack-filling tar can be driven on as quickly as 10 minutes after crack sealing. Crack-filling is most commonly done in unison with sealcoating and should be done before any striping takes place to prevent crack filling over fresh paint.
