Winter weather can wreak havoc on your asphalt if you’re not fully prepared.
Whether you own a commercial driveway, parking lot, or roadway, it’s important that you take the necessary steps to safeguard your asphalt pavement before the snow and low temperatures arrive. Neglecting your pavement before or during the winter season could cause serious damage to your asphalt and reduce its lifespan as a result.
Of course, there’s no better time to take action than before the first snowfall. Here are our top seven tips to help you protect your pavement this winter!
1. Clear Any Debris from Your Pavement
The first thing you should do to prepare your pavement for winter is clear any debris from your pavement.
This is important for two reasons. First, it will prevent any rogue objects from freezing onto your pavement once low temperatures strike. Second, it will allow you to spot any damage that needs to be addressed before the snow arrives.
2. Fill in Any Cracks
After clearing any debris from your pavement, you may be able to spot large cracks in your asphalt.
These will need to be repaired prior to the first snowfall, as snow will melt, seep into the cracks, and cause problems at the foundation. If you notice cracks in your asphalt, call your local asphalt contractor to order professional crack filling.
3. Repair Any Potholes
When cracks grow and join together, they form potholes—large areas of displaced asphalt.
Ask your local asphalt company to patch these holes before the winter arrives, as neglecting them will only cause them to grow larger. Not to mention, they will make it difficult for you to shovel your surface properly!
4. Fix Your Standing Water Issues
Standing water erodes pavement and causes cracks and potholes to form. Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to address standing water during the winter, and it’s an issue that can’t wait until the spring.
If you notice standing water now, be sure to discuss it with your local asphalt paving company before winter arrives.
5. Order Sealcoating
Once all of your asphalt repairs have been made, ask your asphalt paving contractor to sealcoat your entire surface.
This additional protective coating will serve as the first line of defence against harsh winter weather—slowing or preventing any damage caused to your pavement.
6. Shovel Frequently
You should never allow snow to build up on your pavement. Large amounts of snow will result in large amounts of standing water that could threaten your asphalt.
Be sure to shovel after every snowfall so that standing water is kept to a minimum.
7. Avoid De-Icing Products
While de-icing products are a convenient way to deal with snow, consider their negative impact on both the environment and your asphalt.
By accelerating the freeze-thaw cycle, these products make it easy for water to penetrate your pavement and cause trouble beneath the surface.
Do you need help protecting your asphalt against snow and low temperatures this winter? Contact the team at Empire Paving today for sealcoating, crack filling, pothole repairs, and all other asphalt paving, maintenance, and repair work!
We were very pleased with the professional job done by Empire Paving this fall.
Luciano and his team were very reliable, knowledgeable and able to handle all issues that arose during completion of this project. We would highly
recommend Empire Paving for any paving job!