4 Easy Steps to Asphalt Maintenance

A well-maintained, crack-free asphalt surface with a dark coat and crisp lines is an attractive feature enhancing the value of any property. It serves as an invitation to residents, guests and customers, and adds significant curb appeal. Keeping asphalt that way demands consistent maintenance, however.

These video and blog resources will show you everything you need to know.

Diveways, parking lots, roads and other asphalt surfaces come in countless shapes and sizes, all requiring the same basic four steps to remain in top condition. Asphalt Kingdom President and CEO Judd Burdon outlines these critical phases, and walks you through each, in the following resource videos and blog posts:

Step 1: Preparation

Any successful asphalt maintenance job begins with proper preparation. This means making sure the surface is free of debris, loose asphalt, vegetation and stains. Otherwise, you’ll have limited success, and could waste time, energy and supplies.

Preparing a driveway or parking lot for maintenance is fairly simple. Here’s a helpful framework for how to approach this first step:

Judd reviews asphalt preparation basics.

Step 2: Crack Repair & Pothole Patching

Once the blacktop has been properly cleaned and prepared for maintenance, the next step is to repair cracks and potholes. An asphalt crack creates a foothold for the elements to begin deteriorating the surface. Left unchecked, cracks can expand, and eventually turn into potholes.

Skipping this step would be like painting over a crumbling dam—not exactly fixing the most pressing problem!

Sealing up cracks and patching potholes as they occur will prevent further damage and more large-scale excavation and replacement in the future. These videos and articles will show you how to get started:

Find out when it’s time to use asphalt cold patch, and how to apply it to fix a pothole.

Step 3: Sealcoating

Filling cracks and patching potholes is an effective way of repairing damage that has already occurred, but sealcoating is one of the most important steps to helping prevent future damage to the asphalt surface.

That’s because a good layer of asphalt sealer, reapplied every two years or so, keeps the blacktop flexible and creates an important, protective barrier between the asphalt and the elements.

Applying asphalt sealer is simple enough, especially when you follow the advice shared within these resource videos:

Want to learn the four major ways sealcoating protects asphalt and how to tell when it’s time to reseal? This video’s got you covered.

It might sound strange, but asphalt maintenance is a lot like taking care of your teeth! Judd explains why the order of asphalt maintenance tasks is key.

The job isn’t over once the sealer has been applied. Find out what to do after sealcoating to get the best, lasting results.

Step 4: Line Striping

Line striping is the fourth and last stage of the asphalt maintenance cycle. It’s the process of repainting the lines that direct traffic where to drive and park.

If you’ve just sprayed a layer of asphalt sealer over your existing lines, then it’s important to line stripe, immediately. Otherwise, the lot will look unfinished and drivers won’t know where to go, resulting in chaotic and even dangerous situations

Fortunately, the line striping process isn’t difficult, and these resources will help you know where to start:

Judd explains the top reasons why it’s important to maintain clean parking lot lines.

Like other maintenance steps, line striping requires proper preparation. Find out what you need to do before you paint your lines.

Different line striping machines are better suited for different jobs. Learn which types might be right for your projects.

To learn even more about asphalt maintenance, check out our list of Free Courses.