MAK SEALCOATING wants nothing more then for your asphalt parking lot or driveway to look beautiful and last for years!! 608-434-6713
Keeping Asphalt in Good Shape:
Maintenance Tips
1. Keep Cracks Filled Fill the cracks as soon as it forms. Rain will seep into the crack and settle the rocks and sand, causing the asphalt to cave in. In the winter, melting and freezing snow expands and contracts, breaking the asphalt and causing the crack to get bigger. An inexpensive crack filler from a hardware store will do the trick!
2. Use Weed Killer Weeds growing in the cracks will cause the asphalt to weaken and possibly break up.
3. Keep the Edges of the Asphalt Free of Grass and Dirt
After mowing the lawn, blow the grass off the driveway edges. Grass and dirt buildup on the edge of the driveway holds moisture and will slowly deteriorate the asphalt. It’s also a good practice to use a weed eater to remove any grass from the edge of the asphalt. Angle the line of the weed eater slightly and it will remove the dirt as well.
4. Remove Oils Spots Oil soaks into asphalt, causing it to swell and get soft. To remove oil, completely cover the area with granular cat litter about an inch deep and leave it set for 2-3 days. Sweep or blow the cat litter off. You may need to repeat several times depending how long the oil spot has been there and how much oil has been leaked. After the oil has dried up as much as is possible, let the area dry in the sun for a month or two. The remainder of the oil will evaporate out.
5. Park in a Different Spot Alternating parking spots will help prevent dips and sink holes. The weight of a veicle sitting in the same spot day after day will cause depressions in the asphalt over time.
6. Never Park on the Edge of the Asphalt Avoid parking on the edge of the asphalt, including where the asphalt meets concrete and decorative bricks. This is a fragile area and it is prone to cracking and breaking when subjected to heavy loads.
Maintenance Tips
1. Keep Cracks Filled Fill the cracks as soon as it forms. Rain will seep into the crack and settle the rocks and sand, causing the asphalt to cave in. In the winter, melting and freezing snow expands and contracts, breaking the asphalt and causing the crack to get bigger. An inexpensive crack filler from a hardware store will do the trick!
2. Use Weed Killer Weeds growing in the cracks will cause the asphalt to weaken and possibly break up.
3. Keep the Edges of the Asphalt Free of Grass and Dirt
After mowing the lawn, blow the grass off the driveway edges. Grass and dirt buildup on the edge of the driveway holds moisture and will slowly deteriorate the asphalt. It’s also a good practice to use a weed eater to remove any grass from the edge of the asphalt. Angle the line of the weed eater slightly and it will remove the dirt as well.
4. Remove Oils Spots Oil soaks into asphalt, causing it to swell and get soft. To remove oil, completely cover the area with granular cat litter about an inch deep and leave it set for 2-3 days. Sweep or blow the cat litter off. You may need to repeat several times depending how long the oil spot has been there and how much oil has been leaked. After the oil has dried up as much as is possible, let the area dry in the sun for a month or two. The remainder of the oil will evaporate out.
5. Park in a Different Spot Alternating parking spots will help prevent dips and sink holes. The weight of a veicle sitting in the same spot day after day will cause depressions in the asphalt over time.
6. Never Park on the Edge of the Asphalt Avoid parking on the edge of the asphalt, including where the asphalt meets concrete and decorative bricks. This is a fragile area and it is prone to cracking and breaking when subjected to heavy loads.