Key to Successful Blacktop Repair Is to Carefully Follow Sealant Instructions
This blacktop crack can be repaired with a simple caulk gun and a tube of asphalt crack sealant.
(By Tim Carter -- Tribune Media Services)
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Q DEAR TIM: I need to repair a blacktop crack. What is a good way to prevent water penetration? I've tried different sealers, but some have been messy. Is there an easy-to-apply product that produces great results? -- Maggie S., Athens, Ohio
ADEAR MAGGIE: Repairing cracks in blacktop can be messy. I remember years ago using a putty knife and a large bucket of sticky asphalt to patch driveway cracks. No matter how hard I tried to stay clean, that black goo covered my hands and lower arms.
Today there are products that are somewhat easier to work with. Brewercoat makes a pourable blacktop crack filler that works well in warmer temperatures. I have used Liquid Nails, a blacktop crack filler that is applied with a standard caulk gun. I prefer this product, as I seem to have the best control when tooling the sealant into the crack. The cracks are unsightly; there's no need to make things look worse with sealant that's spread unevenly on the pavement.
The best advice about how to use blacktop crack sealants is this: Stop and read all the instructions on the label. Make sure you have all the right tools and products to finish the job. All too often, people forget an important step or two.
Instructions for some products mention using a backer rod. A backer rod is usually a foam product that is pushed down into a deep crack to save you money and help improve the appearance of the repair. The foam backer rods look like miniature garden hoses and come in different diameters and lengths.
Many blacktop repair products shrink in volume as they dry and cure. If you apply the minimum amount of material called for in the instructions, the shrinkage will be minimal. But often people in a hurry will simply fill the deep crack with the crack filler. When the product dries, there is a noticeable depression in the crack. What's more, they have wasted expensive material deep in the crack where it's not needed.
Usually the depth of the crack filler should be equal to or slightly greater than the width of the crack being sealed. The instructions on the label of a crack sealer I just used said that the maximum thickness of the sealant shouldn't exceed a half inch. It also said that the maximum width of a crack shouldn't exceed a quarter inch.
It's important to make sure the crack is cleaned of all loose debris and that the blacktop is dry. Again, read the instructions, as some products can be used on damp blacktop. This is often the case if the sealant is water based.
Temperature can also be an issue. Most sealants can't be applied in cold weather. Again, the label will tell you the minimum temperature for good results. But be careful: You should understand that the minimum temperature typically applies to the entire drying and curing time. So, if the label says not to use the product at temperatures below 40, and if the daytime high is 42 but temperatures are expected to drop into the 20s that night, the product may fail.
Tim Carter can be contacted via his Web site,http:/
© 2008 Tribune Media Services
