Crack Repair The Basics in Getting it Done Right
Crack repair preparation procedures are the techniques used to clean and/or dry crack channels to attain the best conditions possible for the material to be placed by paving contractors. It is the most important aspect of sealing and filling operations because a high percentage of treatment failures are adhesion failures that result from dirty and/or moist crack channels. It is important to keep in mind that cracks that have formed will continue to form. So from that logic consumers must realize that cracks treated or not treated can and will continue to grow. crack filling is a good way to expand the time in between asphalt replacement by treating areas that would other wise start to become large liabilities to pedestrians using the parking lots.
The five primary procedures used in preparing crack channels are as follows:
1. Airblasting
2. Hot airblasting
3. Sandblasting
4. Wirebrushing
5. Heat Lance
Airblasting may be done either with a portable backpack or power driven blowers or high pressure air compressors with hoses and wands.
Hot airblasting is performed with a hot compressed air lance, or heat lance, connected to a compressed air unit. This form of crack preparation is quite effective at removing dirt, debris, and laitance.
Sandblasting is a labor intensive operation that is quite effective at removing debris, laitance, and loosened AC fragments from the sidewalls of most cracks. This equipment consists of a compressed air unit, a sandblast machine, hoses, and a wand with a venturi type nozzle. A second air compressor is often necessary for follow-up cleaning after the sandblasting operation.
Wire brushing is quite effective at removing debris lodged in the crack reservoir, but not as effective at removing laitance and loosened AC fragments from the crack sidewalls. Some paving contractors will do nothing at all before sealing cracks and this cost consumers a lot of money over time. Recently motorized wire brush tools have come to the market that can also be quite affective.
Heat lances are the new kids on the block when it comes to crack preparation. They basically burn the debris out of the cracks allowing for the repair materials to adhere to the sidewalls better.
About Empire Asphalt Repair Services
Empire Parking Lot Services is a Southern California paving contractors that specializes in parking lot and warehouse maintenance. Every day we help our property management customers, contractors, facility maintenance technicians, as well as our direct owners with many of their parking lot maintenance needs including Trench Paving. Empire Parking Lot Services offers top notch parking lot repair and warehouse maintenance services to the entire Southern California area. Our service area includes Orange County, Los Angeles, Riverside County, San Bernardino, San Diego, as well as parts of Ventura. Contact us today if you have any questions about any project you may have upcoming. Empire Parking Lot Services is a fully licensed & fully bonded asphalt contractor company.
Call us at: 877-760-2757
Or look us up on the web at www.Empirepls.com
1080 Batavia Unit N
Orange, Ca. 92867