Sterling Heights, a bustling city undergoing constant traffic and harsh weather conditions, requires regular road maintenance for safety and longevity. Understanding the importance of road sealing, using quality materials, and engaging professional services like Motor City Sealcoating are essential. This article covers:
- The Essentials of Road Sealing: Protects against water damage, UV rays, and chemicals, enhancing road safety and appearance.
- Types of Sealants: Comparing coal tar and asphalt emulsion in terms of durability, environmental impact, and cost.
- Preparation Steps: Cleaning, minor repairs, and choosing the right sealant are crucial for effective application.
- Application Process: A step-by-step guide from assessing conditions to the final drying phase.
- Post-Sealing Maintenance: Tips on regular sweeping, crack inspection, and timely re-sealing to ensure road durability.
- Professional Services: The advantages of hiring experts like Motor City Sealcoating for top-notch equipment, high-grade materials, and skilled workmanship.
Additionally, local Sterling Heights ordinances on lawn maintenance and noise control are highlighted, emphasizing community standards for a pleasant living environment.
What is Road Sealing?
Road sealing is about cleaning the asphalt, fixing any damage, and then covering it with a special coating. This coating fills in the small holes and sticks to the surface, making a flexible, waterproof cover.
There are two main types of coatings:
- Coal Tar Emulsion – Comes from coal tar. It lasts a long time and is cheaper but can be bad for the environment.
- Asphalt Emulsion – Comes from petroleum. It’s better for the environment but doesn’t last as long and costs more.
You usually need to seal your asphalt every 2-4 years, depending on how much it’s used and the weather. It’s best to do it before the asphalt starts to show signs of wear.
Benefits for Sterling Heights Roads
- Prevents Water Damage – Water can really harm asphalt. Sealing stops water from getting in, which helps avoid potholes and cracks.
- Protects Against Chemicals/Fluids – Things like oil and gas can soften asphalt. A seal keeps these out.
- Shields from UV Rays – The sun can make asphalt hard and crack. Sealing reflects the sun’s rays.
- Improves Friction – Some sealants make the surface less slippery, which is good when it’s wet or icy.
- Enhances Appearance – Sealing makes asphalt look nice and black, and hides any rough spots.
Sealing can make asphalt last 3 to 4 times longer, which is a great return on investment.
Asphalt Sealants
Motor City Sealcoating offers both coal tar and asphalt-based sealants.
Coal Tar Emulsion can protect for up to 8 years. It’s tough against fuel and chemicals but may not be great for the environment.
Asphalt Emulsions are kinder to the planet but need to be reapplied more often, every 2-4 years. They’re a bit more expensive but don’t harm the environment as much.
The best sealant and how often to apply it depend on how the asphalt is used and what condition it’s in. Motor City Sealcoating looks at each job to figure out the best approach.
Pre-Sealant Preparation
Getting a road ready before putting on a protective sealant is key to making sure it works well. This means cleaning the asphalt well, checking for any damage, and fixing these issues.
Cleaning
The first thing to do is to clean the road surface with machines that can sweep away all the dirt, debris, and dust. It’s also important to clean up any oil or fuel spills. This cleaning helps the pores in the asphalt open up so the sealant can sink in properly.
Some important steps in cleaning include:
- Sweeping – Using machines to get rid of dirt and debris. They can also clean out cracks.
- Blowing – Using air to blow away any dust and sand left in cracks after sweeping.
- Degreasing – Putting on a safe cleaner to get rid of oil and grease spots.
Cleaning well means nothing can stop the sealant from sticking to the asphalt.
Minor Repairs
After cleaning, it’s time to look over the road for any small damages like cracks or holes. These need to be fixed so they don’t get worse.
Some common fixes include:
- Using a special filler for cracks and holes
- Patching up areas that are very worn or have potholes
- Fixing any broken expansion joints
Fixing these issues makes sure the road is ready for the sealant to stick.
Motor City Sealcoating’s Quality Preparation
At Motor City Sealcoating, the team takes care to prepare each road surface with the best equipment and methods. They use:
- Powerful sweepers to clean debris
- Safe cleaners and primers for oil spots
- Hot air blowers
- Checking and fixing all cracks and problems
They choose the best sealant materials and know how to apply them for the best protection.
This careful preparation helps Motor City Sealcoating give roads a longer-lasting protection.
Step-by-Step Road Sealing Process
1. Assessing Road Condition
First, we take a good look at the road to figure out what it needs. This step is all about checking the road for any problems like cracks or potholes, and understanding how much traffic it gets. This helps decide what kind of sealant to use and if any repairs are needed first.
2. Cleaning the Surface
Next, we clean the road really well. This means getting rid of dirt, dust, and any oil spots. Cleaning helps the sealant stick better to the road.
3. Repairing Cracks and Potholes
Before we seal the road, we fix any cracks or potholes. This makes sure the road is smooth and ready for the sealant. We fill in cracks and patch up potholes so the sealant can do its job right.
4. Applying the Sealant
Now it’s time to put on the sealant. We use special tools to make sure it goes on evenly and covers the whole road. The type of sealant we use depends on how busy the road is and what the weather is like.
5. Drying and Curing Time
The last step is to let the sealant dry and set. This usually takes a day or two. It’s important to keep cars off the road during this time so the sealant can harden properly.
Following these steps helps keep roads in Sterling Heights and around Metro Detroit in good shape for a long time.
Maintenance Tips Post-Sealing
After you’ve sealed your road, it’s important to keep it in good shape. Here are some easy tips to help you do just that in Sterling Heights:
Regular Sweeping
- Make it a habit to sweep your road twice a year, once in spring and once in fall. This gets rid of things like dirt, leaves, and small rocks.
- Cleaning off these bits helps stop them from scratching and wearing out the sealcoat.
- A vacuum sweeper truck works best for this job.
- Be extra careful when you sweep the first time after sealing to not hurt the new surface.
Crack Inspection
- Every year, take a close look at your road for any new cracks.
- Small cracks that are less than 1/4 inch wide are okay but keep an eye on them.
- If you see cracks that are bigger than 1/4 inch or lots of small cracks spreading out, you need to fill them in. This stops water from getting in and causing damage.
- You can use special crack fillers to do this.
Re-Sealing
- You’ll need to put on a new layer of sealcoat every 2-4 years, depending on how much the road is used.
- Putting on a new coat helps keep the road safe and can save you money on big repairs later.
- If the sealcoat looks faded or you can see the rocks in the asphalt, it’s time for a new coat.
- Make sure the road is really clean before you re-seal it.
- It might be a good idea to have someone check the pavement to see when it’s the best time to re-seal.
Keeping up with these steps will help your roads in Sterling Heights stay in good shape, safe to drive on, and free from big problems in the future. If you’re not sure about something, you can always ask the folks at Motor City Sealcoating for advice. Taking care of your road regularly is the best way to avoid costly fixes later.
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The Role of Professional Services
Motor City Sealcoating has a team of experts who know a lot about taking care of asphalt. They use really good tools and materials to make sure they do a great job. Whether you need help with a driveway at home or a parking lot for your business in Sterling Heights, these pros can help.
Advanced Equipment and Techniques
For cleaning and getting the asphalt ready, Motor City Sealcoating uses strong cleaning machines, air blowers, and special cleaners. This makes sure the asphalt is super clean so the sealant sticks well. They also have a special way to fix cracks that works really well.
When it’s time to put the sealant on, they use special machines that make sure it goes on smoothly and covers everything evenly. They’re careful to not make a mess and they wait the right amount of time for everything to dry properly. They even have a special machine that makes the sealant even tougher.
High-Grade Sealant Materials
Motor City Sealcoating uses some of the best sealants out there. They pick the right kind based on what you need – like if there’s a lot of cars using the area, if it’s really cold, if you need it to dry fast, or if you want it to look extra shiny.
They talk with you to figure out what’s best for your situation.
Quality Workmanship
The team really cares about doing a good job. They take their time to clean the asphalt, fix any problems, put the sealant on carefully, and make sure everything dries as it should. They also make sure they do their work without getting in the way too much.
Because they focus on doing things right and safely, their work lasts a long time. This means your asphalt can handle Sterling Heights’ tough weather and lots of cars without problems. People really trust them because of their good work.
If you want your asphalt to last longer and look good, it’s worth getting help from the experts at Motor City Sealcoating. They can save you money over time by making sure your pavement stays in great shape.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Keeping your road in good shape after sealing it can sometimes be tricky. Even when done professionally, you might still see problems like cracks, uneven spots, and the sealcoat wearing off. Luckily, there are ways to fix these common issues.
Surface Cracks
Cracks in the road can happen for several reasons like the weather changing, water damage, the ground moving, or heavy vehicles using the road.
Small cracks that are less than 1/4 inch wide are okay to just watch for a while, but bigger cracks need to be fixed. Why? Because bigger cracks let more water in, which can make the road worse.
Here are some ways professionals fix cracks:
- Routing and sealing – Making the cracks wider, cleaning them, and then filling them with special stuff to seal them up.
- Patching – Filling in cracks and holes with a special mix.
- Overlay – Putting a new layer of asphalt over the old one.
It’s important to fix cracks as soon as you see them to stop more damage. It’s a good idea to get help from experts who know how to fix roads.
Raveling
Sometimes the top layer of the road starts to wear away, leaving a rough surface. This is called raveling.
Causes
- Bad drainage and water damage
- Using low-quality asphalt
- Not packing the asphalt down enough when it’s put down
- Problems with sealcoating
Fixes
- Make sure water can drain properly
- Put on a new layer of sealcoat
- Mill and overlay the surface
- In really bad cases, you might need to repave the whole thing
Checking your road often lets you catch and fix problems early.
Uneven Surfaces
Sometimes roads get bumpy and uneven because of things like the ground settling or bad drainage. These bumps can be a problem for drivers.
Causes
- Not packing the soil under the road well enough
- Water wearing away the ground
- The ground freezing and thawing
Solutions
- Pack the soil down again and repave
- Fix the shape of the surface
- Add new base layers and repave
- Make the drainage better
Checking your road every few years helps find any problems so you can fix them early. If you notice anything wrong with your asphalt, give us a call at Motor City Sealcoating. We have the right tools and know-how to figure out what’s wrong and fix it. We also offer maintenance plans to help keep problems away. Let us know if you see any signs of trouble with your asphalt.
Conclusion
It’s really important to keep up with road sealing, especially in places like Sterling Heights where the weather can be tough and there are a lot of cars on the road. If we don’t protect the roads with sealcoating, they can start to crack, get potholes, and become uneven pretty quickly.
Sealcoating is like a shield for the road. It stops water from getting into cracks, keeps the sun from making the asphalt weak, and helps prevent damage from oil or chemical spills. This protective layer keeps the road from getting damaged so fast and makes it last a lot longer.
Sealcoating not only keeps the road in good shape but also makes driving safer and saves money in the long run. It’s cheaper to fix small problems now than to have to redo the whole road later.
That’s why it’s a good idea to check your road every few years and see if it needs new sealcoating.
When it comes to keeping roads in good condition in Sterling Heights, Motor City Sealcoating is a great choice. Here’s why:
- They use the latest methods and the best equipment to clean the road and put on the sealant right.
- They figure out the best kind of sealant to use and when it’s time to put on a new coat.
- They do a really careful job to make sure the sealant lasts a long time.
- They offer plans to help keep the road in good shape all the time.
Working with a trusted company like Motor City Sealcoating is a smart move to make sure your road can handle Michigan’s weather year after year. By sealing and taking good care of the road, it stays safe to drive on and you avoid big repair costs later.
Related Questions
What are the rules for lawn in Sterling Heights?
In Sterling Heights, you need to keep your yard looking nice. Here’s what that means:
- You should cut your grass, trim bushes, and get rid of weeds regularly.
- Don’t let your grass get taller than six inches.
This helps make the neighborhood look good and keeps it safe by making sure you can see clearly near streets and walkways. It also stops pests from moving in.
If you don’t take care of your lawn, the city might give you a warning or even a fine.
What is the noise ordinance in Sterling Heights Michigan?
Sterling Heights has rules to keep things quiet and peaceful. Here’s the gist:
- Loud noises that others can hear from public places aren’t allowed from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- This includes loud music, parties, construction work, power tools, and more.
- Loud car noises, like noisy mufflers, stereos, exhaust systems, and squealing tires, are not allowed at any time.
- If you break these rules, you might have to pay a $100 fine for the first time you’re caught.
So, everyone should try to keep the noise down, especially at night. Also, make sure your car isn’t too loud to avoid trouble.
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