When it comes to maximizing the life of your chip seal surface, proper maintenance is essential.
Chip seal is a popular paving method that has been used for hundreds of years. Today, it is frequently used for new pavement, maintenance, and repairs—making it a highly versatile and affordable paving solution.
While the average chip seal surface lasts for seven years, your pavement’s longevity is ultimately dependent on a few factors—including traffic, climate, and, of course, maintenance.
If you want to get the best return on your investment and ensure that your chip seal surface lasts as long as possible, here are four maintenance tips you will want to keep top of mind!
1. Don’t use your surface until it has fully cured
Although it may be tempting to start driving on your surface shortly after it has been paved—particularly if pavement maintenance is causing downtime for your business—it’s critical that you wait until your chip seal has fully cured before using it.
Driving on your surface prematurely can result in marks and movement that cause your pavement to break down sooner than anticipated.
While a layer of chip seal on existing pavement might only need several hours to cure, a brand new chip seal surface can take up to two days to fully dry—depending on your area’s climate and the time of year. When in doubt, ask your paving contractor how long the surface needs to fully cure!
2. Always perform pavement repairs on time
As a rule of thumb, address any pavement concerns as soon as possible. The longer you leave chips, cracks, and potholes, the larger they grow and the more expensive they become to repair.
To avoid costly repairs down the road, make a habit of inspecting your chip seal surface on a regular basis. As soon as you spot cracks, potholes, and other blemishes, contact your paving contractor to schedule repairs. You’ll pay a small bill now and avoid a large one later!
3. Power-wash your surface as needed
Heavy traffic and poor weather aren’t the only factors that cause pavement to break down prematurely. The reality is that oil, gasoline, and other chemicals can be equally as destructive—causing your pavement to erode over time.
To prevent these substances from causing serious damage to your pavement, make sure you inspect your surface regularly for spills and stains. It’s also wise to power-wash your surface at least once per year and as often as you notice stains on your pavement.
4. Avoid abusing your pavement
How well you treat your chip seal surface directly impacts its longevity. Actions such as sudden accelerating and hard braking can cause chips to loosen and scatter across your pavement.
Not only do these loose stones allow cracks and potholes to form but they can also cause damage to vehicles. Sweep your surface frequently so that any loose stones are removed promptly.
Do you need professional chip seal services for your West Texas asphalt? Get in touch with Danny’s Asphalt Paving today and we’ll even give you a free quote on your upcoming project!
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