Alright, Marysville homeowners, let us talk about that asphalt driveway of yours. You have probably seen a few cracks pop up. You might have also seen a pothole or two. This happens to the best of us, especially with our Pacific Northwest weather. That constant rain as well as those freeze-thaw cycles we get are brutal on pavement. So, when you spot damage, you have a couple of main options for repair. These options are crack sealing or patching. We need to figure out which one is right for your situation in Marysville.
As the owner of Absolute Asphalt Co, I have seen it all. Our team has seen everything from minor hairline cracks to driveways that look like a lunar landscape. Choosing the wrong repair method is not just a waste of money. It can also let the damage get worse faster. So, we will break down crack sealing versus patching. We will do this honestly and directly. This will help you make an informed decision for your Marysville home.
Crack Sealing: The Proactive Protector
You can think of crack sealing as preventive medicine for your driveway. This is what you do when you have those smaller, non-structural cracks. These cracks are usually less than three-quarters of an inch wide. The goal here is simple: keep water out. Water is asphalt's number one enemy. It seeps into those tiny cracks as well as gets under your pavement. When it freezes in winter, it expands. This pushes the asphalt apart. That is how a small crack turns into a big problem. This can also lead to a pothole in your Marysville driveway.
Cost
Crack sealing is generally the most affordable option for your Marysville asphalt. We are talking somewhere in the range of $1 to $3 per linear foot for professional application. For a typical Marysville driveway with some minor cracking, you might be looking at a few hundred dollars. It is a small investment. This small investment pays off big time by preventing more expensive repairs down the road for your Absolute Asphalt Co project.
Durability
When done right, crack sealing can extend your pavement's life by 3 to 5 years. It is not a permanent fix for the asphalt itself. It effectively stops the progression of damage from those smaller cracks. The rubberized sealant we use is flexible. This means it moves with the asphalt as temperatures change. This also maintains that watertight seal for your Marysville property.
Maintenance
Once sealed, you do not really do much specific maintenance for the sealed cracks themselves. You just need to do regular cleaning. The key is to keep an eye out for new cracks. You also need to watch if old seals start to fail. Regular sealcoating every few years on top of crack sealing is a fantastic combination. This provides maximum protection against our wet Marysville climate as well as UV rays.
Appearance
A fresh crack seal will be visible. It usually looks like a dark line where the sealant has been applied. It is not invisible. It is a clean, neat line that shows you are taking care of your property. It looks a whole lot better than a spiderweb of unaddressed cracks on your Marysville driveway.
Patching: The Corrective Cure
Now, if you have bigger issues, patching is the solution. This includes potholes as well as wide cracks. It also includes areas where the asphalt is crumbling. We also use patching for that dreaded