Unfortunately, an asphalt driveway doesn’t last forever. Over time it starts to develop cracks and need repairs. This is especially true in areas of the country where there’s a lot of temperature variation, like in Wisconsin. The repeated freezing and thawing cycles can cause cracks to expand beyond the point where it makes sense to repair them. That’s why it’s important to deal with Crack Sealing in Sun Prairie WI while cracks are still small. Once the cracks get larger, resurfacing or replacement of the asphalt driveway will be necessary.
Consider the Size of the Cracks
With cracks that are less than 1/2-inch wide and not very deep, you can use a crack filler for crack sealing in Sun Prairie WI. Cracks that are larger than this require a bit more work to fill and seal, especially if they are more than two inches deep. Deeper, larger cracks are also a sign that there may be some type of underlying problem with the driveway and it may be better to resurface or replace the driveway instead of just filling the cracks.
Consider the Number of Cracks
If there are tons of cracks and your driveway looks like a spiderweb, it doesn’t make sense to try to seal these cracks yourself. You’ll want to either resurface or replace the driveway.
Take the Driveway’s Age Into Account
Although repairing a driveway can help make it last longer and may be cost-effective for a newer driveway, once a driveway reaches a certain age, it’s likely that new problems will just keep coming up. If the driveway is at least 20 years old, you may want to consider just replacing the whole thing rather than trying to repair the cracks.
Think About Whether Looks Matter to You
Patches aren’t invisible. You’ll be able to see everywhere that’s been patched on the driveway. If you care how the driveway looks, you may be better off getting the driveway resurfaced. This is especially important if you are trying to sell the house, as first impressions are key for potential homebuyers and the driveway is one of the first things they’ll see.
Contact Tri-County Paving Inc. for more information. They can help with all your asphalt repair or replacement needs.