Maintaining your driveway is key to keeping your home or business looking welcoming and pristine. Having said that, many people find that they don’t quite understand some of the subtler differences in driveway maintenance, particularly the difference between asphalt crack sealing and crack filling.
In this article, we’ll provide you with some background on asphalt crack sealing in Toronto and how it differs from crack filling. We’ll also touch on the different types of cracks that can mark your driveway and what could be causing them, so that you can determine which service you need.
What Is Crack Filling?
Crack filling is a process that involves using cold-patch or hot-patch asphalt to “fill” larger and deeper cracks or holes.
These cracks come in a variety of types, including block, longitudinal, and diagonal; however, they are stationary due to the proximity of its two edges. In other words, they aren’t getting worse.
If your pavement is stationary and not showing too much movement, then you can often opt for filling as a the right technique to deal with the cracks.
You may also choose to do filling for deeper and wider cracks, but this tends to be a less permanent solution compared to crack sealing.
The filling technique also uses materials that aren’t rubberized which in turn can lead to filling breaking down and needing replacing within a few years.
That said, it is a less intensive option compared to crack sealing.
What Is Crack Sealing?
Crack sealing is usually the preferred technique to tackle smaller and more manageable cracks and breaks in the pavement.
The process is typically faster and cheaper compared to individual crack filling. Which isn’t to say that it’s an altogether simple process; you’ll need to make use of a variety of crack sealing equipment, including melt pots, tanks, and torches.
The sealing process involves remove debris from the crack and filling it with hot sealant injected into the crack itself or just above. The intent is to prevent the crack from worsening by blocking out water so that it can’t enter the crack and begin to degrade the foundational soil or widen the crack over time.
What’s more, during winter, ice can freeze and melt several times in the crack, which can also play a part in making the crack bigger.
Essentially, crack sealing is a great way to prevent smaller cracks from becoming larger and getting out of hand. If they do become a larger problem and are left unaddressed, you may eventually need to make use of asphalt resurfacing in Toronto. This can be more costly and time-consuming compared to crack filling and sealing.
Any cracks that are shallow and less than an inch wide are suitable candidates for crack sealing.
Larger cracks than this will typically require filling.
Alternatively, if your driveway is marked by an abundance of cracks, you may look for asphalt paving in Toronto that can redo your driveway and get it looking like new again.
With an expert managing your asphalt paving services in Toronto, you can expect to benefit from a crack-free driveway for many years.
Types of Asphalt Cracks
One thing to note is that there are different types of cracks, which in turn can influence which method is best to help your driveway.
While there’s a whole variety of cracks that may mark your driveway, we’ve included six of the most common below.
1. Transverse Cracks
A crack that is positioned perpendicularly to the driveway to the centerline or laydown direction of your pavement and is typically caused by changes in heat. These are often the first types of cracks to appear.
2. Longitudinal Cracks
These cracks run parallel to the centerline or laydown direction of the pavement and often follow transverse cracks, though they can appear earlier at times. These types of cracks are typically the result of poor lane join construction, your pavement having shrunk, temperature changes, and your asphalt getting harder.
3. Edge cracks
These cracks occur at the edge of the pavement and concrete curbs. These are a usually the result of seasonal cycles of ice thawing out, which ends up widening and deepening the crack as explained above.
4. Seam Cracks
These cracks develop along the joints of the pavement are usually the result of a poor or incomplete initial paving.
5. Block Cracks
These are square cracks that usually are spotted near the end of a pavement’s lifespan. Block cracks can be caused by shoddy construction of the pavement itself or by a lack of drainage, allowing the water to seep and pool.
6. Alligator Cracking
One of the more common types of cracks, alligator cracking is named for the scale-like look of these interconnecting cracks that are often spread across the entire driveway. Day-to-day usage and asphalt deterioration is why you’ll begin to see alligator cracking in your driveway.
Asphalt Crack Sealing in Toronto That You Can Rely on
Get all your asphalt crack sealing, asphalt resurfacing, and asphalt paving needs in Toronto handled by experts. Our proven team at Ivy Property Services Inc. will ensure you’ll get tough, reliable, and resilient asphalt paving services in Toronto that will save you time and money.
No matter what asphalt need you have—from installation and repair to asphalt crack sealing—we have it covered. We provide asphalt repair services, parking lot repainting, asphalt paving and repair, routing and crack sealing, sealcoating, snow removal, catch basin repairs, pothole repair services, and so much more.
Contact us today and receive a free quote for driveway paving in Toronto. Call us at (416) 818-0970 or send us an email at info@ivypropertyservices.com and get asphalt paving services in Toronto.
