7 Easy Step To Resurface An Asphalt

Asphalt Maintenance is as important as it could be. The asphalt roads continuously face vehicle runs that may damage the finish of the asphalt. The regular maintenance of it keeps it undamaged. Sometimes, weather becomes the biggest hassle in degrading the quality of asphalt. An asphalt road is made on the runways, highways, driveways, and parking lots. These areas are more prone to damage the asphalt surface. 

In the maintenance process, the asphalt is resurfaced to remove the holes, blemishes, and other issues. It is a misconception that asphalt resurfacing is expensive. However, it is the most economical way to keep it maintained. If you keep neglecting the minor ditches and holes, they will become a major hassle in the future and will cost you way too higher.

In this article, we are giving you an overview of simple steps to resurface asphalt. You can follow them to make an asphalt 

What does asphalt resurfacing mean?

Asphalt is a mixture of aggregates, filler, and binder that is used in making roads at airports, highways, runways, driveways, railway tracks, and parking lots. These asphalt roads are smoother than any other material. However, the continuous movement of the vehicle over them can degrade their smoothness. It may get holes, blemishes, and other damages. The resurfacing of asphalt will keep them in good condition for a long time. Resurfacing of asphalt means removing the above-damaged layer of asphalt with the help of a road grader for sale and spreading the new fresh layer. 

This process is carried out in 7 simple steps. 

  1. Evaluate the damages

The pre-inspection of the road is mandatory before starting the resurfacing. It means the first step is to identify the core damage and issues in the road. You need to see if this damage is curable with resurfacing or not. Further, you need to assess how deep the damage is. If it is just on the top layer or has gone deep in the road. After assessing the damages, you will be able to find a better solution for the repair.

The highways are quite long in distance, so you also need to identify where and in which part of the road needs resurfacing. This assessment is also important to arrange better materials and equipment for the job.

  1. Make the resurfacing area clean

Once you find the issue and assessed the damage, now you need to clean the areas which need asphalt resurfacing. The cleaning of the road is quite important to make the resurfacing more efficient. The cleaning steps involve the removal of weeds and vegetation from the road. After that, you can wash the asphalt road with water to remove the excess dirt. In the next step, you can scrub the road to remove the remaining dirt off from the asphalt road. Once you clean the road, now let it dry. It may take up to 24 hours depending on the weather condition. For scrubbing and washing, you can use different machinery which will make your job easier.

  1. Asphalt milling

The next step is to remove the top layer of asphalt. You need to mill it with the help of a power machine. However, you need to be careful while milling. If the resurfacing area is small and the top layer is thin, you can use a shovel or a trowel to mill it. Manual milling will not damage the deep layer of asphalt. However, in the larger project, a powerful rammer will be best to mill the top layer of the asphalt.

  1. Fill the cracks

In the next step, you need to fill the crack with the filler and seal coat them. the filler is available at home depot. You can have the best quality ones and use them to fill and repair the internal cracks in the asphalt layers. After filling the crack, make the surface smooth and level the area.

  1. Spread new asphalt layer

Once you complete the initial process, now it’s time to make the new and fresh asphalt layer. The new asphalt layer needs actual consideration. this is the actual step of resurfacing. In this step, you need to pave and smooth the layer to give it a finished look. While laying a new layer of asphalt, make sure the mixture could stick to the surface and is equally spread over the area. Gently pave the surface with a paver and make a smooth layer.

  1. Cure the asphalt layer

The newly spread asphalt layer needs a cure. Once you lay the fresh layer, now let it cure on its own. For the initial few months, no one should run the heavy vehicle over it. Otherwise, it will get depression on the road. During the curing, you will notice that some areas are giving different textures than others. It is normal as some parts get dry early and has a different texture. So, you need to wait until the entire surface is cured and settled.

  1. Sealcoating the asphalt

Sealing the coat is an important step in resurfacing. You need to make sure the newly spread surface is completely cured. Let the surface sit for 6 to 12 months. During this period do not seal coat it or else it will degrade the quality of the asphalt very soon. The asphalt layer is susceptible to rain, oil, and other liquids during the curing process. The liquid can go through the internal layer of the asphalt during the curing process. Giving enough time to the asphalt for curing will keep it long-lasting. 

The Concluding Note

The asphalt is used in making roads on airports, runways, highways, parking lots, and driveways. The damage in the upper asphalt layer will degrade its quality so it needs resurfacing to keep it maintained. The equipment like a road grader for sale helps in milling the upper damaged surface and making the new asphalt layer over the road. The asphalt resurfacing has 7 easy steps that you can read in this article. These simple steps will help you to make a better asphalt resurfacing.