Sealcoating

By Author: Tamika Hartman
Total Articles: 22
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Though many people don't think about it, asphalt concrete is the thing that keeps roads safe and drivable. Unfortunately, this material tends to deteriorate under certain conditions, which can include crocodile cracking, potholes, upheaval, raveling, rutting, shoving, stripping, and grade depressions. In cold climates, freezing of the groundwater underneath can crack asphalt even in one winter. And since asphalt is a petroleum product, other petroleum products will react with the surface. This includes vehicle oil and gasoline. The sealcoat will act as a barrier against those materials. Sealcoating Grand Rapids is carried out by many firms in the greater area.

The life of a road can be made more durable through good design, good construction, and sound maintenance practices. However, regardless of how well a road has been designed and built, it will soon breakdown from wear and tear. Some of the factors that cause asphalt concrete to deteriorate over time mostly fall into one of two categories: environmental factors and traffic loads. Often, damage results from combinations of factors in both categories.

In the ...
... case of environmental factors, extreme cold is a significant factor in the degradation of roads. Sealcoating is used to address this problem. Sealcoat is a liquid that is applied to asphalt to protect it from oxidation and the damage caused by winter cracking. However, sealcoat in not only a cold climate needs. It also protects against UV Rays and traffic. In areas of the world that experience freezing and thawing, the reapplication timeline will likely be sped up.

To be sure, it is far less expensive to keep a road in good condition than it is to repair it once it has deteriorated. This is why many individuals and organizations place the priority on preventive maintenance of roads in good condition, rather than reconstructing roads in poor condition.
One of the best maintenance practices is to keep water out of the pavement, sub-base and subsoil. Maintaining and cleaning ditches and storm drains will extend the life of the road at low cost.

However, another good maintenance practice includes preventing the enlargement of cracks through frost weathering. For as the number, width and length of cracks increases, more intensive repairs are needed. That is why sealcoating is such a good idea. Michigan residents are well aware of the tough winters endured by the state year after year. Such weather tends to be followed by equally warm and sunny summers. These kind of extreme weather shifts contribute to the deterioration of roads. And conditions such as these require special efforts in preventative maintenance.

Using sealcoating saves one the effort money of having to do a costly repair or replacement of a road that is on the verge of complete collapse. Fortunately, there are many firms that conduct sealcoating Grand Rapids. These can be located on the worldwide web. Entering the words 'sealcoating Grand Rapids' into Google will call up a number of asphalt repair and sealcoating shops. You can then compare price and value between the various vendors and decide on the one that best suits your needs.

For more information on Sealcoating Grand Rapids please visit: http://www.jerrysasphaltpaving.com