Asphalt driveway cracks can be annoying and frustrating to homeowners. Homeowners may begin questioning the structural integrity of their homes when they notice a crack on their asphalting Sydney driveway. While it’s important to take care of these cracks, you won’t need to worry about your home too much if there is one small crack on your asphalt driveway. Below are 5 things that you can do about the cracks on your asphalt driveways:
Seal the Crack
Asphalt driveways develop cracks over time due to their exposure to heavyweight vehicles, harsh weather conditions, underground tree root growth, etc. The best way to seal up these cracks is by filling them with a blacktop sealer or hot oil treatment. These products contain chemicals that can help seal up the cracks. If you apply them regularly, they will prevent further damage to your asphalt driveway.
Slope your Asphalt DrivewayÂ
If your asphalt driveway is severely cracked, then you may need to slope it to provide decent drainage. Sloping an asphalt driveway is not difficult and can be done with minimal guidelines. You simply need to lower one portion of the driveway slightly so that rainwater flows towards these low areas of the drive instead of flowing onto other parts of your driveway.
Patch Cracks in Your Asphalt DrivewayÂ
You don’t necessarily have to replace an entire section of your driveway just because there are some cracks present on its surface. You can patch these cracks instead by filling them with a hot asphalt patch. This will make the cracks disappear from your driveway entirely and prevent further damage from occurring.
You can even save some money if you attempt to fix these cracks on your own instead of calling a professional contractor to do it for you. To fix these cracks, you will need to purchase a cold-patch kit as well as some gravel. Just remember that it is better if you hire a professional contractor to do this for you rather than attempting the job yourself.
Inspect Your Asphalt Driveway for Serious Damage
As stated above, an asphalt driveway can develop cracks at any point in time due to certain external factors. However, there is a chance that the cracks on your driveway will spread over time. That’s why you must inspect them regularly so that they don’t become problematic and lead to further damage to your driveway or even your home foundation beneath it. To know if the crack has spread beyond repair, all you have to do is dig up the cracks and check their depth. If you notice that your asphalt driveway has deep cracks, then it’s time to replace the entire section of the driveway with a new one.
Level Out Your Asphalt Driveway  Â
If there is too much debris under your asphalt drive, then you may need to level out the drive to provide proper drainage. You can do this by simply adding gravel underneath it and compacting the earth beneath the drive until its surface is even and smooth enough for vehicles to run on without any problems. Once you’ve done this, an asphalt contractor should be able to come over and seal up your driveway properly so that water flows through it without standing or forming puddles on top of it.
Replace Your Asphalt DrivewayÂ
If there are just too many cracks in your asphalt driveway, then you may need to simply replace it with a new one altogether or resurface it. This is a much more expensive option when compared to the other options listed above, but it will provide you with the best results and protect your driveway from further damage for many years.
For those looking to fix their cracked asphalt driveways, many options are easy to execute. Some of the easiest options include filling cracks with a blacktop sealer or hot oil treatment. There are also other methods to patch these cracks, including cold-patch kits and self-help solutions. If there are too many cracks in an asphalt driveway, homeowners may need to simply replace it with a new one altogether or resurface it for optimum results. Each option provides informative steps on how best to accomplish your next task. With proper upkeep and care, homeowners can protect their homes from further damage until they are ready for replacement.