Tips
Fixing Asphalt Potholes with Cold Mix
Cold mix is often considered a quick fix as it is quick and simple to apply. Begin by cleaning the asphalt pothole to ensure there are no loose materials or debris. Next open bag or bags and place into pothole. Tamp down materials by hand or using a garden roller. In some cases you can even use a car tire to tamp the materials on your asphalt repair. Allow the repaired area to cure for 12 to 36 hours before driving on it, and give it two to five days to cure if you are planning to use a seal-coat.
Five Costly Mistakes to Avoid During Asphalt Repair
Asphalt repair can take a long time but not last for long. Here are the top five mistakes to avoid when repairing asphalt:
The biggest issue in asphalt repair is not adequately drying the surface. Moisture will break up the asphalt and weaken the base, which leads to uneven pavement and more water damage. Small cracks will hold water which will then freeze in cold weather. Since ice expands, the crack then gets larger and allows in more water. The cycle begins and in no time you have a pothole. Cracks that are wider than 1 in. should be repaired the same way you repair a hole. When repairing cracks and potholes with polyurethane products the repair can be compromised because the polyurethanes will react with the water and set up to fast, or even foam.
Another mistake to avoid is not cleaning the surface. Are weeds and grass sprouting from your asphalt driveway? If you don’t do something about the potholes and cracks in the pavement, they’re not going to go away. Again, they will only get worse, especially if you live in a cold climate where ice and freeze/thaw cycles reign. Anything that isn’t removed will increase the damage and prevent adhesion when you do make an asphalt crack repair.
Weather can be a problem when fixing asphalt. Depending on the products you chose when you make your asphalt repairs is as important as how you make them. For cold mix or a chip seal, select a day when the temperature is at least 50 degrees F. The higher the temperature, the easier the sealer is to apply and the faster it dries. If you’re repairing asphalt with polyurethane materials the temperature is not an issue so long as the asphalt repair can be dried. If there’s rain in the 24-hour forecast postpone your asphalt repair.
Underestimating your damage can be costly. Evaluate the damage to your asphalt before you begin. Check your driveway for impressions left by car tires after the car has been parked on the drive overnight. This may mean your base is damaged and the asphalt should be replaced. Puddles, heaving or tilting during cold weather, or buckling or cracking with the spring thaw are signs of poor drainage. This may also be cause for replacement. If you take the band-aid approach and try to do a quick fix it will end up costing you more in the long run.
Another big mistake is not fixing a problem fast enough. A hairline crack can be fixed simply with a polyurethane repair product before the damage advances. The repair is long-lasting and will often halt further damage. If asphalt cracks are left unmanaged they will grow to be a much bigger problem.
Concrete Welder in cartridges for crack repair and FloMix for potholes or more extensive damage are available for purchase through the Roklin web site at http://www.roklinsystems.com or call 1-888-FlexSet. Other concrete and asphalt repair materials are also available.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 1 so far )How to Fix Asphalt Water Damage
Asphalt Water Damage can be unsightly and unsafe. Cracked and crumbling asphalt—a direct result of water on asphalt will grow quickly and must be repaired before the damage is so severe it must be replaced. Water damage grows into potholes, spalls, raveling and alligatoring.
Asphalt is naturally porous and with water and heavy loads it can break down quickly. Asphalt will change as it responds to changes in temperature. It becomes softer in warm weather and becomes harder as the weather cools and will expand and contract with temperature variations. With contraction water can get into the asphalt and if there is a freeze/thaw cycle, ice will further expand the asphalt. With further expansion there is more room for water to enter and the whole cycle to continue. The best way to stop this problem is to fix damage immediately. The best asphalt repair material for water damage is FloMix.
Tools needed:
FloMix
A push broom or blower
Butane Torch
Drill
Egg-beater style pail mixer
Trowel or Lute
To begin, make sure the area is clean and dry. Using your push broom or blower, sweep area clean. Once debris is cleared, use a butane torch on the surface to dry it completely in order to promote adhesion. There is no need to worry about temperatures. FloMix can be ordered with a catalyst for use in cold weather.
Using Roklin’s FloMix asphalt repair product, carefully pour contents of bottle “a” into provided 5-gallon bucket then add aggregate and special sand. Next, shake thoroughly and pour bottle “b” into mixture. If using a catalyst, pour catalyst into bottle “b” before pouring “b” into bucket. Mix with an egg-beater style pail mixer, using a drill. When mixture is completely wet, trowel FloMix onto damaged area and smooth material into cracks. Make sure asphalt repair is up to grade and feather in to match existing asphalt. When repair is sufficiently smooth, toss topping sand by hand over repaired area to create a uniform look and feel. With FloMix, your asphalt repair will set up in about an hour regardless of humidity or cold.
The reality is that water damage will occur. Water runoff can be re-routed, plumbing can be changed but ultimately with a polyurethane repair the damage can be halted, leaving you with a stronger, longer lasting repair.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Best Asphalt repair products for Walkway Repairs
Known for being a litigious state, California sets high standards for maintaining walkways. When those standards are not met, individuals and corporations can be liable for damages and subject to personal injury lawsuits. FloMix is a fast and long-lasting solution to damaged walkways and preventing costly lawsuits.
Sidewalk maintenance is the responsibility of the property owner, according to the State of California Streets and Highways Code, Sections 5610-5611, “The owners of lots or portions of lots fronting on any portion of a public street or place when that street or place is improved or if and when the area between the property line of the adjacent property and the street line is maintained as a park or parking strip, shall maintain any sidewalk in such condition that the sidewalk will not endanger persons or property …When any portion of the sidewalk is out of repair or pending reconstruction and in condition to endanger persons or property or in condition to interfere with the public convenience in the use of such sidewalk, the superintendent of streets shall notify the owner or person in possession of the property fronting on that portion of such sidewalk so out of repair, to repair the sidewalk.”
For a simple and safe asphalt repair, FloMix polyurethane asphalt repair product is your best option. With polyurethanes, asphalt repair is strong yet flexible, preventing further breakdown. FloMix actually bonds to the asphalt repair, making it last longer than other options.
Polyurethane asphalt repairs can be done in most any weather. Provided the walkway can be dried before you begin, there is no need to worry about temperatures. FloMix can be ordered with a catalyst for use in cold weather. With traditional repairs the weather must be right and your walkway could be subject to a lengthy closure. With FloMix, your asphalt repair will set up in under an hour regardless of humidity or cold.
Tools needed:
- FloMix
- A push broom or blower
- Drill
- Trowel or Lute
Make sure your walkway is clean and dry. Sweep or blow out cracks so there is no loose debris. Using Roklin’s FloMix asphalt repair product, carefully pour contents of bottle “a” into provided 5-gallon bucket then add special sand. Next, shake thoroughly and pour bottle “b” into sand mixture. Mix with an egg-beater style pail mixer, using a drill. When mixture is completely wet, pour FloMix onto walkway and use a trowel or lute to smooth material into cracks. When walkway is smooth, toss topping sand by hand over repaired area to create a uniform look and feel. Your walkway can be reopened in about an hour.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Asphalt Crack Repair Tips, Equipment & Products
Asphalt Cracks are ugly and once they begin, they grow quickly and expand. Asphalt cracks can be caused by vehicle compression, car tires, oil, fuel and solvent spills, water erosion and penetration, frost heaves and earthquakes. Even asphalt that is properly sealed can result in asphalt cracks. Whatever the cause, cracks must be dealt with quickly and efficiently. If damage becomes too large, or there are too many, the asphalt may be dealing with replacement rather than asphalt repair.
Standard asphalt repair methods are time-consuming, require significant labor and don’t last long. Roklin’s asphalt crack repair products provide several options, ready for use on most any asphalt repair project. Using Roklin’s simple methods, there is no need for major preparation—no grinding, drilling, pressure washing or saw-cutting. Simply sweep or blow out the damaged area, mix your materials and apply for solid asphalt crack repair.
Hairline Cracks
Equipment: Concrete Welder cartridge, broom, scraper
Sealing asphalt cracks can be done simply using Concrete Welder, available in a cartridge format. Make sure the crack is clean and free of moisture. Use a broom or blower to clean out any loose materials. Open cartridge and squeeze Concrete Welder directly into the crack. Use a scraper or straight-edge to smooth the material out. Wipe up any excess material and allow to dry for 30 minutes. Now the crack is filled and ready for use.
Large Asphalt Cracks
Equipment: FloMix kit, broom or blower, drill, paddle-mixer, trowel
For larger asphalt cracks, use FloMix to stabilize and fill any voids. The polymer-based repair works in areas where the cracks are deeper and wider, the material flowing down to fill the entire space. With no saw-cut or demolition required, the preparation is quick and easy.
Make sure that the damaged area is clean and dry, with no loose debris. Place the aggregate provided in the FloMix package to fill in the deeper area of the crack, without going above the surface of the damaged area. Using FloMix bottle “a”, carefully pour contents into provided 5-gallon bucket then add special sand. Next, shake bottle “b” thoroughly and pour into sand mixture. Mix with a paddle-mixer, using a drill. When mixture is completely wet, pour FloMix onto cracks and use a trowel or lute to smooth material into cracks. When cracks are smoothed out, toss topping sand by hand over repaired area to create a smooth surface. In colder months or when there is little time for the repair, catalyst can be supplied as an additive to speed the reaction. The newly-filled cracks can be ready in less than an hour.
Hot Mix is costly and workers are at the mercy of the hot mix plant; repairs depend upon the hours and availability of the plant. Cold Mix is a temporary fix that just doesn’t last. FloMix asphalt crack repairs can be done on your schedule and the repairs are truly durable.
FloMix is available for purchase through the Roklin web site at http://www.roklinsystems.com or call 1-888-FlexSet. Other Asphalt and asphalt repair materials for large and small repairs are also available.
Asphalt Repair Guide 