5 Questions to Help Make the Call and Get Started This Summer
Look here, those cracks or potholes in your parking lot or driveway aren’t going to fix themselves.
But besides, can they, or should they, even be fixed? Or do you really need to replace your pavement entirely?
When the weather turns warm in Waunakee, Waukesha or West Allis, it’s time to sort this issue out. Because quality contractors like Wolf Paving are quickly getting booked up for the season.
So let’s get right into 5 questions to determine if a repair or repave is the right move.
1. What’s the Nature of Your Cracks or Potholes?
Or are they few and far between, and mostly shallow? Limited cracks less than a quarter inch wide are easy enough for experts to repair, as are a couple of small potholes.
But if you have deeper or wider cracks, or they’re all over the place, then it might be time to replace your pavement.
2. How Old Is Your Pavement?
A quality pavement installation can last 30+ years, only if it’s well-maintained, of course.
If your blacktop is over 20 years old, while showing a lot of cracks, that’s a sign it’s stressed out. Repairs might extend the life of your pavement a couple of years. But you’re likely to need more, and possibly more significant, repairs again before long.
3. Do You Ever Have Pooling Water?
Pooling water caused by poor drainage will accelerate the demise of your asphalt.
In the Wisconsin winter, it will make freeze-thaw damage worse. Plus, it’s a safety issue when that pooling water freezes.
And it might be a sign of problems underneath, depending on the answer to the next question:
4. Is There Sinking and Shifting on the Surface?
We can mill down a small bump or two in one area. But deeper shifts or depressions in your pavement suggest an unstable subbase. That’s the foundational layer beneath the asphalt.
If it turns out you need subbase stabilization, then a full repave is in order.
5. What Are Your Options?
Depending on the answers to the questions above, filling potholes and cracks promptly and sealcoating your surface can help you put off a full repave for many years.
Meanwhile, as a mid-level approach, your pavement might be a candidate for an asphalt overlay. That’s where we apply a new layer of asphalt right on top of your existing surface.
It’s a cost-effective option, but it’s only viable if the current surface and subbase are in good shape. For more information, refer to these 5 asphalt overlay factors.
Here’s the Best Way to Answer These Questions:
Get an asphalt expert to examine your parking lot or driveway and recommend your best approach.
At Wolf Paving, we will give you an honest answer based on decades of experience.
With summer in full swing, now is the time to tackle your repair or repave project. To get your project started, request your free consultation today.
