Thursday, June 20, 2013

Important Information On Asphalt Patching

By Lana Bray


The most common application of asphalt patching includes sealing cracks, resealing road surfaces, application of cold or hot patches on pot holes, water proofing and sealing cracks in water storage tanks. It is also used in roads and runway surface construction. In most cases hot patches are used as they are considered to be more permanent compared to cold patches.

Just like cement concrete, asphalt is a mixture of aggregates of different sizes and mixtures all bonded by one petroleum by products. The mixture includes gravel of different sizes, sand, stone dust depending on where it is to be placed. Asphalt is strong but weak points start showing due to continuous prolonged exposure to sun rays. It can degrade as a result of chemicals percolating in.

Cold patching is economical and ideal for small areas. After digging out a hole, the hole is cleaned with a high pressured air. It is then primed at high pressures and the mixture placed into the hole. Finally, the mix is either tamped or rolled into desired compaction. Compaction is done by a flat roller or a tamper. Tamper is either hand operated which is either gas or air operated.

Hot mix patches are supposed to have a lasting mark as opposed to cold patch. This makes preparation for the former mix to be more complex. During preparation, sections to be repaired are dug uniformly using a shovel, a pavement breaker or a mattock.

The hole is sprayed clean at high pressure using a compressor; gravel is then placed to bring the depth to about three inches. The area if first primed before the hot mix is put to fill the hole. A tamper is used to compress the mixture to a level higher than adjacent pavement. This allows further compacting by vehicles or people while preventing a depression.

Asphalt can also be used to seal leaking roofs and water proofing in water storage tanks. This patching is done during warm seasons to avoid breaking when the cold season finally arrives. The worker has to place the asphalt with great care to seal the hole on roof or crack on the storage tank.

For roads to last longer, proper operation and maintenance should be practiced. Some of the activities include regular sealing of the sides and walk ways. These measures ensure the road does not wear and tear quickly. They further save costs of having to resurface the whole road in future. To perform these operations, a qualified contractor is hired.

A well equipped contractor with a sound financial base and a good history should be considered. Also to put into considerations are the charges, capacity to mobile machinery and equipment. Inquire from former clients about job performance. Check if he has qualified staff to undertake the work. Check on the previous work done and the extent to which they were done in terms of quality.

Asphalt patching is safe and helps save money. This type of coating is mostly used on roads and pavement building as it provides a more permanent surface compared to other foams of coating. The coating can also be easily redone to provide durability to the surface. When done to specifications, it lasts longer thus reducing cost of regular repairs.




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