By Kelly Combot, Commercial Estimator, Marketing Manager
If your driveway or parking lot is in bad shape, you may be wondering whether you should get some light resurfacing done or if you need the whole thing replaced. The truth is, it all comes down to how extensive the damage is, the material (asphalt or concrete), your budget, and time of year.
Here’s how to decide between repairing or replacing your pavement.
Call the pros first
Before you land on a decision between minor resurfacing or a complete replacement of your driveway, parking lot, or walkway, consult a paving professional. They’ll be able to not only determine the scope of the work necessary to fix your issue; they’ll be able to figure out just how broken your pavement is. When it comes to your pavement, it’s best to leave it to the pros.
Give it to me straight, doc
How much of your pavement is damaged will help determine the line between repair and replace. Many experts say that in order to perform semi-permanent to permanent repairs, no more than 25% to 30% can be damaged. That’s not to say some temporary repairs can’t be put in place until there’s time to replace the pavement, but generally, if 30% of your parking lot is in ruin, you should probably redo it.
Golden years
Is your concrete or asphalt over 20 years old? Then simple resurfacing and/or repair probably won’t do the trick, especially if it’s asphalt. The bitumen in it (the black, tar-like binding substance) will have denatured (broken down), and it just won’t hold the same as it may have decades ago.
The same goes for concrete in that its chemical structure just breaks down over time. Water and the elements have their way with it and age takes its toll.
What’s crackin’?
If cracks are too wide or deep, then you’ll need to replace the asphalt or concrete in question. In general, cracks wider than a quarter of an inch and a few inches deep won’t last when repaired, so at least that section of pavement will have to be replaced.
What lies beneath
If the foundation under your parking lot, driveway, walkway, or road is unstable, then your pavement needs to be replaced. No amount of resurfacing or semi-permanent repair can make up for a foundation that can’t support it long-term. That’s how you end up with potholes and sinkholes and crocodile cracking, oh my!
Give a hoot, don’t pollute
Asphalt and concrete contribute an incredibly high amount of carbon dioxide, so when they can be recycled or repaired, they should be, and Superior Asphalt is cognizant of that — we try to perform all of our work in an environmentally friendly manner.
Call us for a consultation
If you’re unsure if your commercial or residential pavement needs to be repaired or replaced, call Superior at 204-254-3737, and we’ll come out and inspect your asphalt or concrete and provide you with options for a fix.
You can also book an appointment online right now.
