What You Can And Can'T DIY With Asphalt Repair
Asphalt and paving repairs are neither cheap nor easy. Of course, there are those projects you can do yourself, but some are best left to the experts. The thing is that asphalt repairs require specialized equipment as well as materials you might not have. Even more important than that, some projects require expertise, and if you embark on a project without the right expertise, you might do more damage that will cost you more to repair.
DIY Asphalt Repairs
If you prefer to DIY, you should catch the problems early before they advance to more complex issues. You may be able to do minor patching, crack filling as well as seal coating. You should consider your budget constraints and long term solutions before you dig in. You can do surface patching on your own because you only do it for minor repairs like minimally damaged areas, surface drainage issues or small potholes and cracks.
Professional Asphalt Repairs
Asphalt paving removal and replacement or peel and pave, for instance, should be left to the professionals. The asphalt needs to be removed with a backhoe or an excavator, which needs expertise. The sub base also needs to be tested for weight support before the new asphalt is laid down.
Full depth repairs also require the expertise and equipment only a contractor would have. In general, during this repair, what happens is that asphalt is combined with coarse stone to make a strong permanent system. If you choose to DIY such a project, you might thicken the stone base and weaken the asphalt, which means it will not be strong enough to support the traffic. Sooner rather than later, you will need more repairs.
Milling is another expert problem. This process requires cold milling that involves grinding up layers damaged asphalt for re-use. This is a very beneficial plan for the end user because of cost savings, but it is not something you can do yourself.
Asphalt paving is ideal for its durability and reliability. However, repairs can be very delicate, and you will only need to handle what you are sure is minor repairs. If not, you will call the experts once you mess things up further, and you will pay way more than you would have initially. You should hire a reputable professional contractor if you have repairs that need an expert hand so you can get long lasting repairs done in the right way. For more information, contact companies like Imperial Paving.
