Let me guess. You probably forgot about how important keeping your asphalt clean is for extending its service life right? Well guess what? It’s super important, keep your asphalt clean has a massive effect on how long your asphalt lives. So, with that in mind let’s look at how to do that—and what to do if you have spill.
It is very common to see streets or roads covered in stains, and not only talking about garbage either, I’m talking chemical spills composed mainly of oil or other harmful additives that can eat away at any asphalt surface.
Keeping your asphalt clean is a task that you should not ignore. A dollar in maintenance and cleaning spent—saves on average 6$ in paving costs later. Rico Asphalt Repair has your asphalt covered on both ends. Ready to extend the life of your street? Learn about our cleaning tips and extend the service life of your asphalt.
Remove any debris
Leaves, garbage and any vegetation that is easy to detect at first glance. This is the first cleaning tip, once is cleared, you can continue on to other aspects of cleaning. Unremoved debris or garbage eventually gets broken down into the asphalt and begins to eat away.
Spills
Spilling liquids with high doses of chemicals and oils usually cause significant damage to asphalt surfaces. The worst offenders:
- Gasoline
- Diesel fuel
- Motor Oil
On many occasions, these types of spills are caused by vehicles as a result of leaks. Time is a huge factor when it comes to spills. Having access early to control the spill is key in terms of how much damage is done.
We have som cleaning tips related to this scenario. What to do when you spill on your driveway or road:
- Apply either saw dust or cat litter to the spill to soak up any surface liquids.
- Remove the cat litter / saw dust once saturated.
- Apply dish soap mixed with diet cola. (2 parts soap /1 part diet cola) Apply over spill. Let sit for 60 mins and high-pressure rinse with a pressure washer.
This will not remove the stain completely. This surface is now properly prepped to have a coat of sealer applied to it to rejuvenate it.
Don’t let moisture be part of your surface
Moisture is one of the worst enemies of your road, the life of a surface can be affected very quickly when it comes to water and humidity. How? well, we have a brief explanation for you.
When the water remains stagnant on the asphalt surface, it begins to loosen, making the layers that are under the water surface weaken. In terms of water sitting on your asphalt, if your asphalt already is presenting signs of surface damage like cracks or potholes, your asphalt might need to be cut out and replaced or crack filled.
Having a clean parking lot is important. It reflects on your business and what your customers think or associates with your company. It doesn’t matter if you own a parking lot or if you have a house with a paved entrance, the tips above if done consistently will help your surface last much longer. Remember clean isn’t only about aesthetics but about prolonging the useful life of your asphalt too!