Asphalt Patching Guide for Businesses in Nashville TN

August 9, 2022
10:47 am

A Complete Guide to Asphalt Patching for Businesses in Nashville TN

Asphalt patching is one of the most important but commonly overlooked maintenance tasks for business parking lots in Nashville, TN. Asphalt patching is the most cost-effective way to protect your parking lot’s surface and foundation from cracks, potholes, and other damage. Over time, weather and wear and tear can take a toll on asphalt, causing it to crack and erode. By patching cracks and potholes as they appear, you can prevent further damage and extend the life of your parking lot, not to mention protecting your brand’s image from being looked at negatively.

Asphalt Patching is so helpful for Nashville, TN businesses. Done the right way; repairing the parking lot saves you a lot of money over repaving both short-term and long-term. Not to mention, having a smooth parking area for your business is necessary to win the customers’ trust.

In this asphalt patching guide for businesses in Nashville, you’ll learn everything about asphalt patching, including its types, how to patch (cold patch DIY method versus the more permanent hot asphalt patch method), and more to protect your Nashville, TN parking lot.

How Does a Pothole Form?

Potholes are formed when moisture seeps into the asphalt surface, freezes, and thaws over and over. This weakens the existing asphalt and forms cracks. As the traffic passes over these weak spots, the cracks crumble and create further deterioration.

Consider it like the formation of ice cubes. When the water freezes inside the deteriorated asphalt, it expands and takes up more space, weakening the parking lot substrate. When this ice melts, it leaves voids under the existing asphalt, further broken down due to the weight of the passing traffic – potholes form.

Potholes can develop in any weather, but generally, they appear more in winter. Since the phenomenon occurs under the pavement, a pothole can often appear out of nowhere and quickly spread across the entire commercial parking lot.

Indeed, no business owner would want that!

Because of this, businesses need to have the proper asphalt mix on hand for quick emergency repairs. Using cold mix asphalt offers the best solution for short-term pothole repairs as it contains a polymer adhesive that gives a smooth look to the parking lot until you implement more permanent repairs, like hot asphalt patching. It’s best to keep the thickness of cold asphalt patches to two inches. For deeper potholes, you must first fill them with angular crushed gravel before pouring the cold mix asphalt.

Understanding Asphalt Cracks

As mentioned before, asphalt cracks are developed when water penetrates the asphalt and gets frozen. Left untreated, cracks can transform into potholes in no time, making asphalt repair more costly.
Thus, Nashville businesses need to deal with cracks in their asphalt as soon as they spot them to prevent further damage to the pavement’s foundation. Quality materials like an asphalt crack sealer and some cold asphalt patch should always be on hand to quickly repair emergency surface patching.
This mixture is effortless to pour and gets dry in less than an hour, saving your business from interruption. Use a squeegee to smooth the surface after placing the mixture.

Cold Asphalt Patch vs. Hot Asphalt for Nashville Businesses

As mentioned earlier, cold patching is ideal for businesses looking for a quick yet temporary solution for repairing the parking lot. For its added convenience, anyone can pour the cold patch without hiring professional services. With cold patches, potholes are filled quickly with ready mix asphalt. This type of pothole patching is straightforward and requires little technical expertise. Thus, every Nashville business needs to be a viable option on hand as a temporary asphalt repairing solution – instead of nothing at all.

But sooner or later, you will need hot asphalt patching, also called full depth patching, to maintain the parking lot with maximum utility. A cold patch doesn’t provide a more permanent fix; the damage to the asphalt will continue to occur. Buying and applying cold asphalt patches over and over only slows down the breakdown process, but inevitably the asphalt parking lot will continue to break down into an irreparable condition.

While anyone can place the cold patch, hot asphalt patching isn’t a do-it-yourself job. Hot mix asphalt is applied at high temperatures and requires special care, skills, and heavy equipment to get the job done. Any business needing hot asphalt patching should immediately call a qualified hot asphalt contractor in Nashville for cost efficiency and the best possible results.

Cold Asphalt or Hot Asphalt: What to Choose?

No direct answer is whether you should use hot or cold for asphalt parking lot repair. If you want a quick yet temporary solution, cold asphalt is the answer, but, in any case, hot mix asphalt patching is a better, longer-lasting, more permanent repair for asphalt surfaces.

For a business, repairing the cracks or potholes as quickly as possible is a must. Thus, companies in Nashville should keep cold-patch asphalt on hand, but it doesn’t fix the underlying problem; it only slows them down. You need to hire a pro for patching hot asphalt to prevent further damage from occurring.

Similarly, the size of the pothole also influences your choice. If the width is three inches or less, go with a temporary solution for the time being. But if your parking lot is full of large damaged sections, it’s always better to contact a professional asphalt patching contractor in Nashville, TN.

How to Cold Patch Asphalt: DIY Method

Now that you know that a cold asphalt patch is the quickest way to fix a pothole for temporary and emergency solutions, the next question is how to patch cold asphalt yourself.

Where to Start

First, analyze the potholes’ size to estimate the amount of material you need. Make sure you have all the required supplies for repairing the cracks/potholes ready on hand; you don’t want to get to a step and have to look for the patching materials you need.

Unlike hot mix asphalt, temperature plays a little factor in cold asphalt patching, thanks to modern mixtures of cold asphalt patch material. Without any trouble, you can apply the cold patch in any weather condition until you schedule a hot patch.
Here’s what you should do:

Assess the Foundation

All types of pavement are poured onto a foundation of compacted gravel at least 4 inches deep or more, giving more support to the asphalt surface. Repairing the foundation is necessary for pothole patching, so be sure to assess the foundation’s condition. Estimate the coarse gravel and sand you need to repair the foundation before cold patching the prepared hole.

Measure the Damage

Next, you should calculate how much asphalt patch you will need. Remember that an asphalt patch gives the most substantial repair when squaring the edges of the hole. So, multiply the width and length of the pothole to get the required amount of material.
Very Important: See how much coarse gravel and sand that has been lost so you can replace it. It is a crucial step in asphalt patching.
For instance, a 3×3 feet hole becomes a 9 square feet hole. Arrange the materials accordingly, and ensure just an inch of depth is left after topping the foundation.

Supplies Needed to Fill a Pothole

Unsurprisingly, pouring asphalt into a pothole requires having certain material supplies and equipment ready beforehand. You don’t want to stop midway during the asphalt patching to go and get the items you need.

Here is a checklist of materials you should keep on hand in case emergency asphalt repairs is needed:

Coarse gravel/sand mix- depending on the total size of the pothole (and the number of potholes) get the amount of gravel to top up the holes until they’re one inch deep. Do not use pea, rounded, or sub-rounded gravel as they roll, causing cracks to the asphalt repair.
Asphalt/concrete Saw- Square the edges and remove the damaged pavement of the parking lot. ( a hammer and chisel can also be used )
Cold Asphalt patch- a 50-pound bag will fill a pothole that’s four square feet and one inch thick.
Shovel
Asphalt seal coat
Brush Or Roller
Vibrating plate- for tamping (a lawn roller or plywood also works)

Hot Asphalt Patching (Full Depth Patching): Professional Method

After getting all the supplies, you can start repairing the potholes immediately. We have divided the whole process into a few simple steps

1. Square Up the Hole- Pop the Lines and saw cut the edges to give the pothole a rectangular or square shape.

2. Excavate the Asphalt- Remove damaged asphalt and broom area with track steer and broom attached.

3. Clean Edges- Sweep edges with a broom.

4. Add Binder- Add an asphalt binder layer with a shovel, then lute. Binder is the intermediary layer between the base layer and the surface.

5. Compact binder – Compact binder with steel drum roller, or vibrate

6. Add top Layer: Now, add the top layer with a shovel and lute. Then, pinch edges and roll at least three times to get the best results.

Click here to see a recent asphalt patching case study in Nashville, TN.

Line Striping

After finishing an asphalt patch, line striping is also needed if you have done asphalt patching on an existing line, mark, or ADA compliance symbols, like a handicap, diagonals, speed bumps, stop bars, fire lanes, etc.

Conclusion

Potholes are the worst nightmare for any parking lot. It becomes more accurate for a city like Nashville that witnesses random freeze/thaw temperatures. If your parking lot has cracks or potholes, get asphalt repair immediately, or it will worsen over time and degrade the asphalt surface even more.

Hence, we recommend businesses in Nashville have some cold patch always handy to repair any crack or pothole urgently before they make arrangements for a hot patch.

Important: Never keep pouring the cold patch again and again as it is a temporary solution and only slows down the degradation of cracks and potholes – it doesn’t fix the issue.

While performing asphalt maintenance with cold asphalt is a simple DIY job for emergencies, hiring a professional asphalt patching contractor for a more permanent solution is the way to get the job done right and for long-lasting repair.

Asphalt Patching & Asphalt Repair Services for Businesses in Nashville, TN.

Infrared patching

As the name indicates, infrared patching entails heating the damaged asphalt in the pothole with infrared technology to aid removal. It is then replenished and mixed with existing asphalt to fill in the gaps, creating a seamless repair. Both the wind and the temperature affect the standard asphalt heating time.

For more info on infrared asphalt and seamless repair in Nashville, please click here.

Hot Asphalt Patching

Hot asphalt patching is a more permanent solution to repairing cracks and potholes parking lots. It requires skills and heavy equipment to complete the task the right way. Thus, it’s preferable to hire professional services for hot asphalt and infrared patching repair. The hot mix asphalt mixture is made of rock, sand, tar, and bitumen and is heated at a very high temperature between 275-350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Parking Lot Sealcoating

If you want to keep your parking lot in good condition and avoid expensive repairs, consider asphalt seal coating. This process involves applying a liquid bond coat that protects against damage from exposure while also reflecting heat, so it’s not dangerous for drivers or pedestrians walking on the surface of this protective layer beneath their feet!

Asphalt sealcoating is a great way to extend your parking lot’s life even further by preventing cracking caused when there is no more protection to exposed asphalt surfaces that undergo oxidation due to UV rays. This causes rapid deterioration over time if left unchecked.

Asphalt Overlays (Resurfacing)

To give your parking lot a new lease on life, an asphalt overlay is a perfect solution. It can extend its lifespan by 15 years and improve surface quality while also providing safety for pedestrians who walk or drive over it every day!

A great way to think about this process? You’re not removing everything underneath but instead using what’s already there as support materials to create something better than before. Asphalt milling may have to be done depending on the condition of your parking lot.

Parking Lot Striping & Pavement Markings

There are a few reasons businesses should invest in parking lot striping and pavement markings. The first is that it helps to organize and direct traffic flow within the lot. This makes it easier for customers to find a space and park their car, leading to increased business. Parking lot striping can also help to improve safety by indicating where pedestrians should walk and where drivers should stop. Finally, well-maintained parking lot striping and pavement markings can make a business more professional.

Asphalt Patching Markets

Gaddes Strategic, LLC is a top provider of asphalt patching services in the Nashville, TN, Davidson County area. Our team has years of experience in this market and knows how to quickly and effectively patch up potholes and other damage. We work with office buildings, restaurants, healthcare facilities, shopping centers, storage facilities, gas stations, places of worship, camping grounds, Parks, schools, mobile home parks, malls, and more. We understand the importance of keeping these properties looking their best and are always available to help with any asphalt patching needs.

Asphalt Patching Nashville TN Service Areas

Gaddes Strategic, LLC provides asphalt patching to the cities and local communities in Davidson County, TN, as well as other surrounding areas upon request:

Nashville TN, Antioch TN, Bellevue TN, Belle Meade TN, Davidson County TN, Goodlettsville TN, Whites Creek TN, Joelton TN, Old Hickory TN, Madison TN, Hermitage TN, East Nashville, Donelson TN, Green Hills, West Nashville, Downtown Nashville many more!

Gaddes Strategic, LLC in the Media

Yahoo!

GlobeNewswire

Media Room

23 thoughts on “Asphalt Patching Guide for Businesses in Nashville TN”

Comments are closed.