Asphalt Repair and Maintenance Services in North York - Right Seal Inc.

Heavy snowfall requires frequent, aggressive mechanical snowplowing. If an asphalt surface has open, unsealed cracks, the heavy plow blades will catch on the jagged edges of these fractures, ripping up chunks of asphalt and widening the gaps. Furthermore, as the piled snow melts, it sends a constant stream of water directly into those open cracks, saturating the sub-base and causing rapid pothole formation during spring thaving.

Applying sealant directly over an un-routed crack only creates a thin, superficial band across the top of the fissure. Because the internal crack walls are still full of loose dust and fine dirt, the sealant cannot form a structural bond. When winter cold causes the pavement to contract, this thin strip lacks the depth to stretch and quickly tears away, allowing water to leak right back down into the sub-base.

Storm drains and catch basins are built from heavy, rigid concrete blocks anchored deep in the ground, whereas the surrounding parking lot is flexible asphalt. Over time, heavy vehicle traffic and water leaking through worn joints wash away the gravel base supporting the asphalt. This causes the surrounding pavement to sag and collapse, forming dangerous deep drops that require concrete rebuilding and fresh asphalt patching.

High-durability traffic paints dry quickly, typically within 30 to 45 minutes under normal conditions. However, to prevent heavy vehicles from tracking wet paint across the lot and to ensure the markings form a tough, long-lasting bond with the substrate, it is best to keep vehicles off the fresh lines for at least 2 to 3 hours after application.

Applying a hot rubberized sealant over loose sand, dirt, or winter salt residue prevents the compound from sticking directly to the solid asphalt walls. The sealant ends up bonding with the loose dirt instead, causing it to tear away from the crack during the next heavy rain or cold snap. Deep power sweeping cleans out this loose debris, ensuring a strong, permanent bond.