When your driveway or parking area starts showing its age, you want clear answers without the sales pitch. Running Los Angeles Diamond Asphalt means I spend a lot of time walking properties from the Valley down to the South Bay, looking at what our brutal Southern California sun and occasional heavy downpours do to pavement. Homeowners ask Los Angeles Diamond Asphalt many questions when they notice their Asphalt breaking down.
How do I know if I need a simple patch or a full replacement?
It usually comes down to what is happening underneath the surface. If you have a single pothole or a localized cracking spot caused by a heavy delivery truck, an Asphalt patch will usually do the trick. But if the sub-base has failed, meaning the ground underneath is sinking, or you see a spiderweb of alligator cracking across the entire Asphalt surface, patching is just throwing money away. At that point, you are looking at Asphalt removal and Asphalt replacement for your property in Los Angeles.
Why is my asphalt cracking when we barely get any rain here?
People forget that water is not the only enemy. Out here in Los Angeles, UV radiation does a massive number on Asphalt binders. The sun bakes the essential oils right out of the mix, turning that rich blacktop into a brittle, gray Asphalt surface that cracks under normal car weight. When we do get those sudden winter storms in places like the foothills, that water slips right into those sun-baked microcracks and breaks the Asphalt pavement apart from the inside out.
Can I just use a bucket of cold-patch from the hardware store to fix my potholes?
You can, but treat it as a temporary band-aid. Those cold-patch bags use a soft mix that does not require heat, which means it never really hardens up like hot-mix Asphalt does. Under our intense summer heat, cheap cold-patch turns gooey and sticks to your tires. If you want an Asphalt fix that actually lasts through multiple seasons in Los Angeles, you need proper hot-mix Asphalt patching or infrared Asphalt repair.
How long do I have to stay off the driveway after a repair?
For standard hot-mix Asphalt patching, you will want to keep cars off the new Asphalt for at least 24 to 48 hours. If it is a scorching hot July afternoon in the San Fernando Valley, the Asphalt takes a bit longer to fully cool and regain its structural rigidity. Walking on the Asphalt is usually fine after a few hours, but parking a heavy SUV on a fresh Asphalt patch too soon will leave ruts immediately.
Is it worth repairing cracks myself before hiring a pro?
If you have a tube of rubberized Asphalt crack filler and a weekend to spare on minor, non-structural Asphalt cracks, go for it. Stopping water from getting into the Asphalt sub-base early saves you a ton of cash down the road. Just make sure you clean out all the dirt and weeds first. If the Asphalt cracks are wider than a half-inch or look like shattered glass, DIY Asphalt sealants will not hold up and you will need professional routing and hot-pour Asphalt sealing from Los Angeles Diamond Asphalt.
How often should I realistically expect to fix my asphalt?
If your Asphalt pavement was installed right and you keep up with basic maintenance like Asphalt sealcoating every few years, minor Asphalt repairs should be few and far between for the first decade. But neglect your Asphalt in our climate, and you will be fighting new Asphalt cracks and surface crumbling every single year. Staying proactive with Asphalt maintenance is always cheaper than waiting for total Asphalt failure in Los Angeles.