Autumn Maintenance To Protect Pavement Through The Winter

Being prepared isn’t just for boy scouts, and you don’t need a merit badge in asphalt protection to know that preventative maintenance practically pays for itself. While asphalt maintenance is typically done in the spring, it can also be done in early to mid-fall if the weather allows for it. As long as the weather is warm and dry enough, you still have time to get in some last minute work before winter sets in.

Winter in Wisconsin can be rough and really give your parking lot a beating. If your parking lot has weak spots in fall, then winter will find them and you’ll be paying for it come spring. That’s why it is so important to give your parking lot a look over while it’s still easy to do so and assess whether or not your asphalt pavement needs a little extra love before it spends the next few months being salted and dealing with constant cold moisture.

Here are three things to consider before the cold weather sets in:

1. Sealcoating

Sealcoating should be done every three to five years to help protect your asphalt parking lot or driveway. For this job to be done properly, the nightly temperature needs to be at least 50 degrees and before the leaves fall to the ground because they make it difficult to sealcoat effectively. If the weather permits, sealcoating can still be done, however weather in Wisconsin has been known to be unpredictable so the sooner the better.

2. Crack-filling

Even small cracks can be a major problem if not handled properly. Cracks often lead to storm water getting into the underlying rock supporting the pavement, and if the sub-base gets damaged, more cracks and holes can appear. This leads to more water getting in and the cycle continues. Dealing with small damages ahead of time saves you from trouble later on. Crack-filling materials are available at home improvement stores or you can have the cracks professionally filled.

Potholes produce a similar problem. If water fills up a pothole it can expand, making the pothole bigger. A small pothole in the summer will only grow in the winter months. Consider repairing potholes the right way to protect your investment through the winter months.

3. Pooling water

Pooling water on your asphalt could mean the top layer is uneven, which could mean an issue with the sub-base and may lead to potholes. When this occurs, it may indicate a larger problem with the sub-base, and without proper attention, an uneven area could easily turn into a pothole. The correction may be as simple as patching the dipped section to make a level surface, or if the pooling water is really bad a drain might have to be installed. Not to mention that pooling water in warm months means ice in the cold months. Avoid slips and falls on your property by fixing the problem as soon as possible.

Another solution to standing water on your parking lot of driveway is porous asphalt, which is designed to allow water to run through the asphalt and sub-base back into the ground where it belongs. Porous asphalt is relatively new and has a lot of benefits worth looking into. Replacing the pavement of your parking lot with porous asphalt is something that might be worth considering in the future.

To get started request a free estimate for paving repairs.

Even in the winter months Wolf Paving has your back. We offer snow removal and other winter services including sanding and salting.

Our experts at Wolf Paving can help you maintain your asphalt and our paving professionals can help you with our next paving project. Contact us today for a free estimate and to receive additional information about our products and services.

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