How To Get the Best Value Out of Your Asphalt Repair Budget

Pavement budgets are very similar to automobile budgets. With both pavement and automobiles, we know they need to be maintained, we know they don’t last forever, and we know the better we maintain them, the longer they last. It is essential to be aware of the maintenance your pavement requires and to make sure your budget is sufficient.

Perform an Annual Visual Inspection

Performing annual inspections is a great way to keep on top of asphalt pavement repairs. Another way is to have a professional pavement assessment performed where core samples of the existing asphalt and underlying base material and soils are evaluated, along with the pavement’s surface. Each year, take a walk around your asphalt pavement to look for:

• Asphalt color
• Marking conditions
• Potholes
• Cracking or crumbling
• Alligator or checkerboard cracking
• Rutting
• Standing water

Putting a Monetary Value to the Work Needed

After your visual inspection, if you feel the condition of your asphalt pavement is in need of attention, you will need to contact an asphalt contractor so they can provide you with an estimate. Most contractors will come on site to perform their own inspection of the property, but if they do not, be prepared to provide them with the following:

• Square footage of pavement area
• Approximate square footage of potholes and the asphalt thickness
• Length of cracks to be sealed
• The age of the pavement
• The last time the pavement was sealcoated

The pavement is subjected to the type and frequency of traffic such as passenger vehicles, delivery trucks, garbage trucks, 18-wheelers, etc.

Budgeting for the Right Way to get Your Maintenance Projects Done        

When budgeting for asphalt projects, there can be an initial shock on just how much it costs. The price of producing and hauling asphalt can get expensive. Because of this, it can be tempting to just put a “band-aid” on the project until more money can be secured. However, this isn’t always the best option. Completing a maintenance project the right way, the first time, may be expensive on the front end, but will save you a substantial amount of money in later years. Just filling potholes may not be the best maintenance option because there may be an underlying reason why potholes keep forming.

The industrial and commercial asphalt world is always changing. Please like this article, share this article, or visit us at https://arnoldasphalt.com.