What is Crack Seal?
Crack sealing is the process of placing an adhesive sealant into cracks in the pavement surface to prevent moisture and incompressible materials from seeping into the pavement. It is a cost-effective coating protection process that can slow coating degradation and extend coating life by three to five years.
Crack Seal Why should it be done?
While 75 percent of unrepaired cracks turn into potholes within three years, only 1 percent of repaired cracks turn into potholes in the same time period. Considering the benefits from reduced vehicle damage, increased driver safety and less road maintenance, it's clear why crack sealing is important.
How to Make Crack Seal?
Proper preparation of the surface is important for successful adhesion of the sealant.
Opening the crack offers cleaner edges for better material adhesion and creates a reservoir that holds the appropriate amount of sealant to accommodate thermal movement.
While the crack is being opened, at least 3 mm of damaged coating should be cut from both sides of the crack and the depth should not be less than 25 mm. Opened or unopened cracks must be filled with mastic and appropriate equipment suitable for climatic conditions. Cracks must be cleaned of harmful substances before filling, as these will reduce adhesion.
Before starting, it should be checked that no moisture or oil has escaped from the compressor into the crack. Sealing cracks on a dry road is crucial to the success of the operation.
