The Asphalt Kingdom Blog

Knowing what the ideal job temperature is before applying crack fill, sealcoat or line striping paint is essential in making sure your project lasts. Planning your scheduled jobs and being up to date on weather forecasts is important so you don’t sacrifice the quality of your work because of less-than-perfect temperatures.

Have you wondered why new asphalt looks rich, dark, and thick, while old pavement is gray, flaky and stony?  That is because bitumen (tar) that mixes and holds the stones together to form asphalt has dried out. When freshly laid, asphalt is very flexible and can withstand wear and tear. However, with continuous exposure to the sun, the bitumen gets eroded, and your asphalt starts to lose its deep color and flexibility.

Asphalt, by nature, matures and ages through time. Prolonged exposure to the sun and other natural elements cause it to grow brittle, which leads to flaking and cracking. Filling cracks is an important factor in asphalt maintenance. It helps prevent additional damage by keeping moisture from seeping into the foundation, and avoid weakening the asphalt even further.

• Overgrown tree roots, oil spills, and the elements can cause cracks in your asphalt.
• Planning to fix driveway cracks yourself? You can do it using different products.
• You can also hire a contractor to fix wider cracks or extensive alligator cracking.

Whether you are a homeowner or a property manager in charge of running an airport or storage facility parking lot, keeping your asphalt driveway or parking lot in good shape is a worthwhile investment. Asphalt is much like our skin - it ages and matures as time passes. Asphalt also requires care and attention, in order to maintain its fresh appearance and life span. Read on to learn tips and best practices on how to care for your blacktop.

Table of Contents

• Why Asphalt Pavements Develop Cracks
• Different Options to Repair Asphalt Cracks

Before a potential customer or tenant steps inside your establishment, the first thing they usually notice is the appearance of your parking area. How well a parking lot is maintained, or how degraded it appears at first sight, speaks volumes regarding your business’s upkeep.

In asphalt maintenance, anybody can complete simple repairs. DIYers can fill cracks, clean surfaces, sealcoat small properties, and line stripe parking spaces like a professional. 

It's important to remember that you can cover more asphalt maintenance than you might believe. Crack filling, sealcoating, line striping, and other repairs can easily be completed by DIYers. 

The challenge comes in trying to match the look of professional jobs. After all, if your work is lackluster, you may find yourself returning to the same problems over and over. 

The following professional tips can help you execute your next asphalt maintenance project, from preparation and crack repair to sealcoating and line striping. 

Sealcoating a driveway or parking lot is not only one of the most important steps a property manager can take to maintain it and prolong its lifespan, it’s also an investment that can add value and curb appeal to the property. An attractive, dark coat of sealer will only look professional, though, when the entire surface is sealed evenly and neatly—including its edges. 

Like any other asphalt surface, airport runways and aprons need to be maintained properly to avoid damage. This responsibility is even greater at airports to prevent cracks or potholes that could jeopardize the safety of aircraft and passengers. 

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.