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Repair Asphalt Cracks This Summer in the Twin Cities, MN Area

There are a number of outdoor projects to address during the summer months around your Twin Cities property. The list only seems to grow each day! 

Fortunately, there’s one outdoor project you can always trust to the professionals. If you’ve noticed pesky cracks in your parking lot asphalt, the professionals at Gopher State Sealcoat are here to answer your questions about repair, including:

When is it best to seal parking lot cracks? Generally, spring through fall because the weather is warmer and drier than winter months. Ideally, because cracks tend to contract during summer and expand during winter, try to fill in cracks during the spring or heading into cooler fall or winter months.

How often should asphalt cracks be sealed? Seal fresh cracks as soon as possible, and keep an eye on your asphalt parking lot throughout each season. The faster these cracks are addressed, the less likely they are to continue cracking. Regular crack repair will protect your asphalt investment!

Should I fill in all types of cracks? Most straight-line cracks can be sealed, but there are certain types of cracks that can’t be, including alligator cracks. These types of cracks resemble the skin of an alligator and generally mean that the asphalt is too dehydrated to save. In situations such as this, consider patching these parts of the parking lot before the asphalt loosens and becomes a pothole.

How long does it take to seal a crack in the asphalt? Generally, asphalt crack-sealing material cools within minutes, which means you and your parking lot will be ready for business. Barrier paper may be applied on warmer days or when an asphalt surface is open to traffic to help prevent tracking.

As you spruce up outside your commercial property this summertime in the Twin Cities, give yourself a little extra time to focus on managing your property. Contact the professionals at Gopher State Sealcoat today at (952) 931-9188 for all of your asphalt related needs including crack repair, sealing, and paving. With our expertise, your parking lot will be ready for every season! 

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Summertime Asphalt Sealcoating in the Twin Cities, MN Area

Although most of us think about post-winter potholes when it comes to asphalt damage in the Twin Cities, MN area, there’s a lot of damage that can occur during the summer months as well. If you have an asphalt parking lot at your apartment building or commercial property, make sure to avoid common threats to asphalt during the summertime.

Here are just a few issues related to warm, summer weather to avoid:

Sunshine Issues: Just like skin exposed to too much sun, asphalt experiences damage after too much ultraviolet exposure. Over time, the carbon bonds within the asphalt will break down, leaving the asphalt especially vulnerable to cracks or chips. The best way to protect asphalt is by regularly applying a sealcoat. Think of it as an asphalt sunscreen!

Reapplication Failure: Even if you’re using a sealcoat, make sure to reapply it frequently. Sealcoating requires an update every two or three years, otherwise, over time, it becomes less effective at protecting your asphalt from weather damage. If you just installed asphalt, the asphalt will need to secrete its oils to cure correctly and for a proper bonding with future sealants. Make sure the first sealcoating is applied in a timely manner, preferably more than twelve months after the asphalt installation. Applying sealcoat too soon to new asphalt can cause peeling which can be a big problem.

Asphalt Overuse: Cars come in and out of apartment building or commercial parking lots every day. That means a lot of different vehicles of different weights and sizes constantly moving all over the lot. This kind of usage wears down sealcoat quickly, which means it may need to be reapplied more frequently. Keep an eye on your parking lot!

When it comes to protecting your asphalt investment this summer in the Twin Cities, MN area, make sure you take the correct precautionary steps. Sealcoating works best when reapplied regularly and will protect your asphalt from sun damage and wear and tear.

For all of your apartment building or commercial asphalt parking lot needs this summertime, give the professionals at Gopher State Sealcoat a call today!

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Repair Asphalt Trails and Pathways During the Summertime in the Twin Cities, MN

Summer has finally arrived in the Twin Cities, MN area, which means it’s time to hit the trails! As the number of folks walking, running, hiking, and biking increases on the public or private asphalt trails and pathways you’re responsible for, have you taken the time to thoroughly inspected them to ensure they’re safe for everyone to use?

 

Now’s the perfect time to inspect and assess the condition , and repair asphalt trails and pathways and there are some important concerns to consider when evaluating them for safety. With frost and freezing no longer an issue, the warmth of summer is the ideal time to conduct repairs and maintenance to ensure everyone is truly safe on the trails.

 

  1. Assess Use: First and foremost, take the time to learn about who uses the trails and which are the most popular within your city, park, neighborhood association, golf course, or other trail area. This will determine which trails have experienced the most wear and also indicate which asphalt trail or pathway needs repairs.
  2. Evaluate Setting: Look around the trailhead and notice the types of nearby vegetation. If your asphalt trail or pathway is covered by branches or molding leaves, or if vegetation is sprouting through cracks in the pavement, it’s time to contact a professional to perform routine asphalt maintenance and patching.
  3. Check Safety: Besides routine wear and tear, asphalt trails and pathways may experience other types of damage. If spidery cracks are beginning to form, the asphalt will definitely benefit from a fresh sealcoating. Large cracks or holes caused by freezing or other factors may indicate total replaced is required.
  4. Make Routines: If asphalt trails or pathways are evaluated, assessed, and fixed on a yearly basis, these repairs will be minor and routine. Rather than neglecting them over a long period of time which increases the cost and time to repair damage, catch small issues quickly and attend to them!

 

As the summer season settles into the Twin Cities, MN area, make sure the asphalt trails and pathways on your public or private property are safe. To maintain and repair asphalt in the greater Metro area, give the industry leading professionals at Gopher State Sealcoat a call today!

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Pothole Repair for Parking Lots in the Twin Cities, MN

Spring is the perfect time of year to repair potholes in the Twin Cities, MN area! After a winter of snowing, freezing, thawing, and melting, commercial parking lots need a little extra care, especially when they’re full of potholes. Rather than risking the safety of your customers and employees or endangering their vehicles, take the time for pothole repair!

 

Ready to get started? Here’s what it takes to make those potholes disappear from your commercial parking lots! 

 

Clean Up:

First and foremost, clean up the area. Sweep away dirt and sand from the area around the pothole, and then make sure that all other loose parking lot debris is cleared from the area.

 

Pour Patch:

Use an asphalt patch to repair the pothole. Pour the patch directly into the pothole or use a shovel to move it into the area that needs repair. At this point in the process, that pothole should already look a lot better!

 

Compact:

Next, make sure to compact the patch as tightly as possible. The most successful asphalt patches are extremely well compacted, so make sure to really take your time with this step. Repeat, pouring approximately two inches of patch between compacting, until the pothole is full.

 

Crown and Conclude:

Finally, apply a small crown of asphalt patch atop the pothole. The product should continue to settle once applied. Make sure to carefully read the instructions on the product and double check the steps to successfully fill each and every parking lot pothole! 

 

Make sure your commercial parking lot is prepared for spring and summer in the Twin Cities, MN area. Invest some time into filling pesky potholes, and make sure the task is done right.

 

Feeling uncertain about the process? The professionals at Gopher State Sealcoat understand exactly what it takes to make your potholes perfectly disappear. Give us a call today to make your parking lot safe, smooth, and properly prepared!

 

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Get Outside and Stay Safe this Spring With Asphalt Pathway Repair in the Twin Cities, MN Area

Spring has arrived in the Twin Cities, Minnesota area, which means it’s time to get outside! As you lace up your hiking shoes or inflate your bicycle tires, can you trust that the asphalt pathways you’ll be traveling upon are safe?

Over the winter season, asphalt hiking trails or bike paths can experience cracking, chipping, or fading, making them much harder to navigate once folks get back outside. Fortunately, there are ways to take care of these issues and get back to the outdoor activities that Minnesotans love!

Let’s take a look at how to handle damaged outdoor paths with asphalt pathway repair this spring:

Patch Repair:

Have you noticed holes appearing in your asphalt pathway? A quality asphalt repair company will know exactly how to patch and repair those holes and get your pavement looking as good as new!
Crack Sealing:

With continued exposure to rain, ice, heat, and cold, cracks in asphalt can quickly turn into serious issues in Minnesota! If cracks have started to form, take the time to have them filled and sealed before they spread any further and cause greater damage.

Roots:

Especially in natural landscapes, roots are likely to interfere with asphalt paving. Address this issue quickly, before the asphalt or the tree is compromised, in order to ensure the best results. Professional asphalt workers will know what to do, whether it means patching the asphalt or working with the tree to guarantee your pathway remains safe all season long!

Sealcoating:

Make sure that whatever work you do this season lasts for many future seasons as well! Sealcoating will protect your asphalt from future weather events, fading, or general wear and tear. Additionally, making sealcoating a part of your asphalt pathway repair will extend its lifespan!

In order to get outside and move safely this spring in the Twin Cities, MN area, make sure your walking and hiking paths are safe with asphalt pathway repair. Give us a call today!