Central Ontario experiences harsh winter weather, with plenty of snow and ice. As a business owner, it’s important to invest in winter asphalt prep to protect your pavement from damage and maximize its lifespan. Below, we’ll walk you through some of the most important ways to protect asphalt surfaces this winter.
Inspect Your Asphalt
When it comes to proactive maintenance tips, the first thing you should do is inspect your pavement. Look for discolored areas, cracks, potholes, and other signs of damage. You should inspect your asphalt several times per year to help spot potential issues before they become major problems.
Seal Asphalt Cracks
Perhaps the single most important step in winterizing pavement is to seal asphalt cracks. Small cracks can allow water in. As water freezes, it expands, widening the crack and creating potholes. In severe instances, rounds of freezing and thawing can cause asphalt to heave, creating an uneven surface and encouraging it the break apart.
Asphalt crack filling is a proven repair technique that can help prevent the formation of potholes and keep your asphalt in good condition for a long time to come.
Apply a Quality Sealcoat
Another important tip to help prevent frost damage is to invest in a quality sealcoat for your pavement. When the asphalt was initially installed, it should have been sealed, but time, exposure to UV rays, and foot and vehicle traffic compromise that protection.
As the coating fades, water seeps into the asphalt even if there’s no crack. When winter arrives, freezing temperatures cause the water to expand, cracking and damaging your asphalt. A fresh sealcoating will help make your pavement impervious to water and extend its lifespan by many years.
Invest in Commercial Asphalt Maintenance
While winter asphalt prep is important, it’s just as important to keep your pavement in good shape all year long. This will help you avoid costly repair bills right before winter and ensure that your pavement looks great and lasts as long as possible.
Regular commercial asphalt maintenance like sweeping, crack filling, line restriping, and asphalt overlay and milling services will protect asphalt surfaces all year long.
At PaveWorks, we can help ensure that your pavement holds up well even in Central Ontario’s harsh winters. Contact us today to learn more.
