Local businesses here in Fort Collins, CO need a solid parking lot or driveway that makes a good first impression on customers. Regular asphalt cracksealing is a great way to stop small problems from turning into expensive headaches and keep that pavement in good condition for as long as possible. Why You Need Asphalt Care Here in Fort Collins, CO Pavement seems really tough, and it is, but it also takes a beating. Here in Fort Collins, we have ongoing freeze-thaw cycles, heavy traffic, snow plows rocking over things all winter, and constant vehicle use. This causes pavement to wear down faster than many owners expect. When you run a business, that pavement represents a real financial investment, and ignoring wear and tear leads to cracks widening, water seeping in, and eventually potholes or bigger structural failures that keep customers away, stop delivery trucks from getting in, or even put you in legal trouble. How to Protect Your Investment Inspect Regular inspections are your first line of defense. Walk your lot at least twice a year, ideally in spring and fall, and look for cracks that are wider than a quarter inch, any areas where the surface feels soft, or edges that are crumbling. Document what you find with photos and dates so you can track changes to the issue over time and see if weather or traffic are tied to a pattern of decay in a particular spot. Clean Dirt and spills hold moisture against the asphalt, and that speeds up its deterioration. Schedule a professional sweeping or a power washing a few times a year and remove any vegetation you find growing in cracks right away. The roots can push the surfaces apart and create larger openings for water. Asphalt Cracksealing One of the most effective things you can do is to deal with cracks before they grow. Sealing cracks stops water from reaching the base layers, and the reason that matters is because water expands when it freezes, which pries apart the pavement and weakens the foundation underneath. Professional crews will clean the cracks thoroughly, then apply flexible sealant that moves with the asphalt through temperature changes. Sealcoating Sealcoating puts a protective coating over the asphalt so UV rays don't dry it out and cause oxidation. It also creates a barrier against oil, gasoline, and chemicals that break down the binder in the mix. You'll usually want to sealcoat every two to three years, depending on the traffic you get, and this will dramatically extend the life of your pavement. Reach out to us at Affordable Sealing and Striping, Inc today for a free assessment of your pavement. We've got local knowledge, we use quality materials, and we have a commitment to honest work. We've helped many businesses keep their lots safe, attractive, and functional without breaking the bank. We're available 24/7 to businesses and families in Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland, and Utah, CO and across the Northern Colorado area, and we're ready to help you protect what you've built.
What Should Property Owners Know About Keeping Their Driveways as Long as Possible?
If you want your Greeley, CO driveway to last, it's important to understand how Colorado weather actually attacks your asphalt and why getting asphalt crack repair and regular sealing can make such a difference. How to Keep Greeley, CO Driveways In Good Shape For as Long as Possible We face a tough climate with destructive freeze-thaw cycles. Those cycles allow water through even a tiny opening to expand when the temperatures drop and force the pavement apart from inside. Then there's our intense sun at elevation. That tends to quickly oxidize the binder that holds asphalt together, which turns what was a flexible surface brittle and gray. Without steady care, an asphalt driveway often lasts only 12 to 15 years; with consistent attention, many reach 25 years or more. Asphalt Crack Repair Once moisture reaches the base of the driveway, it starts to soften the support layer. When that happens, the next freeze will expand the crack, and the cycle will repeat until you have alligator patterns or potholes throughout your driveway. Sealing cracks before they widen beyond a quarter inch will block most of that damage and can more than double the useful life of the pavement. To deal with cracks, we'll typically use hot-applied rubberized materials that stay flexible through temperature swings, and these can last three to five years under normal residential traffic conditions. Cold-applied products you get yourself from the hardware store can handle light use, but they will shrink and crack much sooner. Sealcoating After the cracks are sealed up, sealcoating adds another layer of defense. A quality emulsion seals the surface pores, blocks ultraviolet light, and sheds water so new cracks form more slowly. Most Colorado driveways benefit from a fresh coat every two to three years. Drainage Drainage matters as much as the surface treatments because standing water will find every weak spot. Make sure the driveway slopes away from the house and that your gutters and downspouts carry all the runoff clear of the edges. Edge vegetation can also pry asphalt apart, so keep the grass and weeds trimmed back so their roots stay out of the pavement. Regular Cleaning You can handle light cleaning and very minor crack filling yourself, and doing that will also help extend pavement life. Never allow oil or a spill of any type to sit around on your driveway. Power wash it once a year, and never allow fall leaf cover to just sit on it, either. In the winter, use eco-friendly calcium magnesium acetate rather than rock salt to keep the driveway clear. It's more expensive, but it's much safer for the pavement. It's also biodegradable and safe for wildlife, your pets, and kids. When the work your driveway needs is more than you want to tackle with a weekend and a few tubes of filler, call in a local crew that really understands Front Range conditions, uses commercial-grade materials, and stands behind the results with a guarantee. Call us today at Affordable Sealing and Striping for help in the Loveland, Fort Collins, Utah, or Greeley areas. We serve all of Northern Colorado.