Crack Sealing as a First Step in a

Preservation System
Before proceeding with a preservation treatment such as a chip seal or asphalt overlay,
make sure cracks are properly prepared

Jessica Stoikes

April 4, 2017

Generally, preservation treatments and pavement overlays are used to restore surface
course characteristics such as smoothness, friction and aesthetics, or to add structural
support to an existing pavement.

However, any preservation treatment needs to be placed on a structurally sound base. If

an existing pavement is cracked or provides inadequate structural support, these defects
will often reflect through even the best-constructed overlay and cause premature
pavement failure in the form of cracks and deformations. To maximize the useful life of
a pavement, failed sections of the existing pavements should be patched or replaced and
existing pavement cracks should be filled.

Cracks are going to happen in asphalt pavement, and when they do it's your job to stop
them from deteriorating the surface and creating potholes. Before proceeding with any
type of surface treatment, consider these points about crack sealing as a preservation
pretreatment.

What is it: Crack sealing is the placement of specialized treatment materials (crack
sealant) above or into cracks to prevent the intrusion of water and incompressible
materials.
Why crack sealing is needed: Cracking is a common and unavoidable type of damage
found in asphalt pavement. The Asphalt Institute indicates that crack sealing is the single
most important pavement maintenance activity. Sealing cracks promptly helps to prevent
water penetration which can accelerate the deterioration of the pavement and result in
potholes and base failures.

Where to do it: Crack sealing maintains a tightly sealed crack only as long as the
pavement remains stationary and the pavement is structurally sound. In climates with
extreme temperatures, where expansion and contraction of the pavement occurs often,
resealing may be necessary every year. Sealing and filling should be done only on dry
surfaces and when the temperature is above 40 F. (Cooler temperatures cause the
pavement to contract, opening the crack and making it easier to fill properly.) Traffic can
be allowed on sealed cracks immediately if a detackifying agent is used, otherwise traffic
should not be allowed on the sealed cracks until sealant has cured.

Why/when you should not crack seal: According to the Asphalt Institute, sealing and
filling cracks should not be done on a pavement that has significant structural problems
as crack sealing or filling does not provide any structural improvement to the pavement.
If the pavement has base failures, severe rutting or fatigue (alligator) cracking, crack
sealing/filling is not an appropriate preservation option.

Preservation prognosis: Crack sealing can extend the life of the pavement 2-5 years; can
provide a 10 point sustained increase in Pavement Condition Index for 7 years vs. an
untreated crack; can reduce potholes and secondary cracking; and can maintain pavement
smoothness over a 5-year period vs. a pavement without crack sealing.

http://www.forconstructionpros.com/pavement-maintenance/preservation-
maintenance/article/12322257/crack-sealing-as-a-first-step-in-a-preservation-system