How Often Do You Need Asphalt Paving Services in Houston?

Asphalt is an effective long-term material solution for parking lots, streets, walkways and other forms of pavement. To maximize its lifespan and cost effectiveness, asphalt pavement must be maintained on time. That includes the following asphalt paving services:

  • Asphalt sealcoating
  • Asphalt crack and pothole repairs
  • Asphalt overlaying
  • Full asphalt pavement replacement

On-time asphalt maintenance in Houston is especially important, as the city’s climate and traffic can be rough on pavement.

Every 18-24 Months: Schedule Asphalt Sealcoating Services

Asphalt sealcoating is an essential form of pavement maintenance, as the sealcoat provides a layer of protection from UV radiation, weather and traffic. Following installation, your Houston pavement team should sealcoat your new asphalt to extend its lifespan. It will be recommended every 18-24 months after that, depending on how much traffic your asphalt handles.

Asphalt sealcoating is less expensive than other types of asphalt maintenance and can be completed quickly if managed by an expert paving company. Application thickness and curing time are two major considerations when sealcoating asphalt, and expert pavement contractors have an advanced understanding of this.

Every 10-15 Years: Schedule an Asphalt Overlay

Following installation, your asphalt pavement should provide 20 or more years of reliable performance, but eventually, an overlay will be recommended to preserve the pavement’s surface.

Asphalt overlays are recommended once the pavement reaches middle age, around 10 or so years. During an overlay, your Houston paving contractor will first remove the top inch or two from the asphalt’s surface to reach the stable pavement layers lying beneath. Once the surface is milled (pulverized) down, your pavement team will correct any issues with the sub-surface base layers. For example, if there are any depressions or subsidence in the base, they will be stabilized to improve the base’s load-bearing capacity.

Once the base is stabilized, the pavement team will apply a tack coat to the exposed subsurface asphalt layers. This will improve adhesion between the existing pavement and the fresh surface course of asphalt. Following tack coat application, a new layer of hot mix asphalt is rolled over the existing pavement and compacted to complete the overlay. Once the surface course is applied and rolled out, it will restore the asphalt’s surface durability and appearance. On average, an overlay will extend the pavement’s life for 10 or more years, pushing back the clock on eventual full-depth replacement.

Every 20-25 Years: It is Time to Replace the Asphalt Pavement

Eventually, an asphalt overlay will not be enough to maintain your pavement’s integrity. After 20 years, it is recommended that property owners keep an eye on their asphalt for signs that full-depth replacement is required. For example, extensive wear or damage to the pavement’s base is a strong indication that full-depth asphalt replacement is required.

Some Houston asphalt contractors offer full-depth reclamation (FDR) services, during which the existing asphalt is melted down and recycled into a new base layer. FDR services reduce projects costs and timelines, as fewer virgin materials are required to complete the job.

During FDR, the pavement is removed down to its full depth and recyclable portions of the asphalt are fed into a reclaimer, which is essentially an onsite furnace that can achieve extremely high temperatures. This asphalt is mixed with chemical additives that restore its durability and flexibility.

The base is prepared again for new pavement, which includes stabilizing any weak areas via compaction or chemical stabilization (adding lime or other additives to the soil). The recycled asphalt pavement is installed over this prepared and stabilized base, ensuring the new asphalt pavement lasts.

As Needed: Schedule Asphalt Crack or Pothole Repairs

Asphalt maintenance services are recommended to Houston property owners as the pavement develops minor instances of wear or damage. Cracks and potholes are two of the most common reasons to schedule asphalt maintenance services, as both will rapidly accelerate wear and tear to your pavement.

During asphalt crack repair services, your Houston pavement team will first inspect the asphalt to determine what is causing the cracking – and there could be many reasons. Poor curing or installation techniques, an unstable base, excessive thermal or loading stresses, or poor edge reinforcement could cause your asphalt to crack. Once the underlying cause is identified, your Houston pavement crew will recommend the right remediation approach, which usually means repairing the crack with flexible, asphalt-based fillers that act like a long-term seal over the crack.

Asphalt potholes must be addressed as soon as they develop, as they represent major weak points in your pavement. If potholes are not repaired, water will rapidly ingress into the asphalt’s deeper layers, eating it away and causing potholes to grow and spread, resulting in the total failure of the pavement if not fixed. During asphalt pothole repairs, your Houston asphalt team will identify what is causing the potholes and correct them first. The failed pavement is extracted from the rest of the asphalt and the resulting gaps are filled with a new batch of hot mix. This is rolled out and stabilized to restore overall integrity to the pavement.

Ongoing Maintenance and On-time Asphalt Services are Key to Preserving Your Pavement’s Longevity

Asphalt is properly recognized as a long-term pavement solution for all types of Houston properties, including large commercial properties. However, like all types of pavement, asphalt must be expertly maintained on schedule to ensure it lasts as long as possible.

Most property owners manage this by partnering with a reputable, proven asphalt contractor in Houston. An expert pavement crew observes best installation and maintenance practices to ensure every new course of asphalt and every round of asphalt maintenance maximizes the pavement’s lifespan and performance.