How does crack fill work?

Hot rubber crack fill seals the surface of your parking lot, ensuring its integrity by preventing water from getting into and under your asphalt.


Water is a detriment to your parking lot. During the warmer times of year, water can seep under your parking lot and wash away your sub-base, the compacted aggregate supporting the asphalt above. In the winter, freeze and thaw cycles results in water expanding and contracting which damages the asphalt above. These processes create cracks in the parking lot.

 

Unsealed cracks create potholes. Crack fill is a cost-effective method to seal the surface of your parking lot to prevent potholes. Think of crack fill like filling a tooth to halt decay or plugging a dam to stop leaks.

 

Maintaining and repairing your pavement early can be far less expensive overall. If you neglect your parking lot, you could end up having to repave much sooner than necessary. Cost-effective maintenance done early will put off the need to repave while helping to stop potential slips, trips, and falls.

 

Cracks need to be properly prepared for crack fill. The cracks must be cleaned out, so the hot rubber crack fill sticks to the side of the crack rather than to sand or dirt. A crack jet is a type of blow torch that will blow out debris in the cracks and burn off other material such as vegetation. Furthermore, it etches the edges of the cracks which improves the ability of the hot rubber crack fill to stick to the crack.

 

Typically, a crack has an hourglass shape, allowing for hot rubber crack fill to set into the space above and below the crack. Once it sets, it creates a water-protective seal.

 

For crack fill to be most effective, the crack should be large enough to hold the hot rubber crack fill. The goal is not to fill every crack, but to fill the cracks which are 1-4 cm (0.5”-1.5”) or about the width of a pencil. It’s much more cost-effective to focus on getting the biggest cracks filled.

 

Attempting to fill every crack is a waste of hot rubber crack fill and money. If the cracks are too small, the material sits on the surface and wears off as vehicles drive over it. It’s better to tackle the biggest cracks, save your budget, and fill the smaller ones another year once those cracks have widened.
 
Crack fill is often confused with seal coating. Seal coating is a more cosmetic repair and a different asphalt treatment altogether. Seal coating looks great but must be reapplied more often and it does not protect asphalt as effectively as hot rubber crack fill.



The End Of Residential Line Painting

By Rod Campbell • April 4, 2023
Residential Line Painting No More

Addaline Fall 2021 Contest

By Robin Farley • October 19, 2021
The past two years have been hard enough. So to win this contest, just enter. The first person to send me an email saying “Addaline Swag Package” in the subject line will win. You will need to be an Addaline customer and we are happy to deliver anywhere in Ontario. Please e-mail Robin Farley at info@addaline.ca. The deadline for this contest is April 1, 2022.

SpringFest - trade shows return

By Robin Farley • October 19, 2021
What: PM SpringFest Where: Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC), 22 Bremner Blvd, South Building, Toronto, ON When: Thursday, April 28, 2022 Who: Building owners, property managers, facility managers to list a few

Catch basins drain water away - less water, less ice

By Robin Farley • October 19, 2021
Catch basins drain away surface water—rain and melting snow. Water sitting in a parking lot can become icy and will damage the surrounding asphalt if its not draining properly. If left to pool, standing water erodes and breaks down asphalt. Maintaining your catch basins is a proactive approach that will save you both time and money. To promote proper drainage, catch basins should be positioned at the lowest points of your parking lot. If you see standing water in your parking lot, there may be problems. You should have the components of the catch basins inspected. In addition, depressions in the asphalt around a catch basin could indicate underlying problems with the lot. Before you try to perform a DIY inspection of a catch basin, remember, the top assembly or steel grate weighs 200 lbs or 91 kg. Our estimators are happy to take a look inside and they take photos of any problems inside your catch basins to be included in your quotes. Once the top assembly is open, the shining light inside the catch basin could reveal damage to the top of the catch basin or broken grade rings (risers) that are allowing water to penetrate beneath the surrounding asphalt. Grade rings or risers are an important component of a catch basin, as they can be added or removed to adjust the level of the steel assembly (remember, it should be below the level of the asphalt to permit proper drainage). There could also be damage in the lower portion of the catch basin where the pipe exits. The area around the pipe is referred to as the annulus and can sometimes crack and crumble allowing the water to go where it shouldn’t. If a contractor only fixes the top of the catch basin assembly and problems below are not addressed, you will have wasted your money and the problem will likely return in very short order. Regular inspections, cleaning and maintenance by a knowledgeable contractor can keep catch basins in good working condition. The cost of regular maintenance is far less expense than lot replacement, damaged vehicles or worse pedestrian injury.

Spring 2021 - Contest winner

By Robin Farley • October 19, 2021
Addaline Spring 2020 newsletter contest winner was Kolleen Hickman of the White Oak Heritage Housing Co-op. She won our Site Snap swag package. Thanks to all who participated in our contest.

Crack fill - best bang for the buck

By Robin Farley • October 19, 2021
If you approve your crack fill and/or line painting estimates now, you will be first in line in the spring. This will also lock-in current pricing. Crack fill ensures the integrity of your parking lot and helps prevent water from getting into and under your asphalt. This is key. Water is the enemy, particularly when we experience the freeze and thaw cycles we have throughout the winter. When water gets into the cracks and creates openings in your asphalt, it moves the pavement up and down, and back and forth creating weaknesses in the asphalt. These weak spots go on to form potholes. Water can also get under the pavement and wash away the sub-base supporting the asphalt above. Pavement which is not supported will break away and form potholes. Crack fill is a cost effective method to seal the surface of your parking lots. Maintaining and repairing your pavement sooner rather than later is less expensive. If you do no maintenance, you will need to repave the lot earlier than necessary. Some less expensive maintenance work early on will put off the need to repave and help eliminate potential slip, trip and falls.

Addaline safety accreditations

By Robin Farley • October 19, 2021
We are prepared for any anticipated impact COVID-19 may have on our ability to deliver service to our customers. We do not expect you to experience any differences in the service we provide. Our sales and administrative staff will continue to answer your calls and assist you. Many of our customers have worked to streamline their work approval process by becoming members of organizations such as ContractorCheck and ComplyWorks. These independent, third party organizations ensure contractors comply with the highest health and safety standards. Addaline Asphalt Maintenance is an accredited member with both companies. Addaline staff are also P.O.S.T. (Petroleum Oriented Safety Training) certified. Many of our customers requested P.O.S.T. certification.

Weather dictates when work can be done

By Robin Farley • October 19, 2021
Now is the time of year to complete your essential parking lot repairs. Once the weather gets cold and snowy, the asphalt plants close and it becomes more expensive and more complicated to get repairs completed. Snowy weather makes it more difficult to find days when asphalt repairs can be done. Take a look at your lot and decide what will not survive the winter. Stop smaller potholes from becoming bigger. Small ankle biters turn into jaws over the winter. A seamless asphalt repair will eliminate these potholes and provides a permanent repair which will last many years. Addaline warranties repairs for two years. Residents and visitors can drive on the repair in about 45 minutes. When a seamless asphalt repair is being done, the Addaline crew work in a small area and allow traffic to flow around them.

Improvements to Trinity United parking lot

By Robin Farley • October 19, 2021
What do you do during challenging times?

A challenging year comes to a close

By Robin Farley • October 19, 2021
Who knew freezing temperatures in Texas would mean getting your line painting done would be a challenge? Jim Campbell, a co-owner of Addaline, purchases our line paint. He has had to get creative and look in different places to find line paint. “Often, our traditional supplier didn’t have line paint in stock,” says Jim. Bad weather in the southern U.S. and the impact of COVID-19 on staffing, sick employees stayed home to help stop the spread, caused a ripple effect across the asphalt maintenance industry. During the winter 2020-2021, Texas experienced freezing temperatures which caused “...unprecedented shortages and disruptions in the fossil-fuel-based resin market” (from For Construction Pros.com, July 2, 2021) . It seems this resin is used to make line paint. Supply chain problems led to line paint being difficult to find and purchase in 2021.This year Addaline Asphalt Maintenance, like other companies providing similar services, have received a limited amount of parking lot paint. Addaline production staff continue to work hard to get all our approved 2021 line painting jobs done.
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