Asphalt is an ideal surface paving material for any school area. It provides a high level of grip while at the same time being hardwearing and flexible enough for playing and driving surfaces. Moreover, added with its relatively lower cost of paving and maintenance when compared with its alternative cousin concrete, it has a distinct advantage. As long as a regular maintenance work is carried out on the paved layer, the asphalt will last for years without any trouble.
Popularity in Schools
No wonder asphalt is popular with schools as a paving material. However, due to the presence of children, it is recommended that pre-emptive repairs and extra care be provided to asphalt school areas.
What it Takes to Maintain it?
Asphalt maintenance usually consists of three things namely, asphalt seal coating, asphalt repair, and asphalt crack repair.
From the moment asphalt is paved on asphalt school areas surfaces it begins a slow but gradual deterioration process due to external elements. The binder, which holds all the aggregate (stone etc.) together, begins a process of oxidation under effect from sunlight, water, and air. To curb this phenomenon a sealant is used to protect the binder from the elements.
The whole process involves the spraying or brush of tar based emulsion or asphalt-based emulsion which is generally applied in two coats on normal surfaces and three coats for surfaces which have a high degree of friction such as those with regular vehicular traffic e.g. driveways, roads, etc.
A dispute lies in the views of people who support the brushing of the emulsion on the surface, as compared to the people who like to put it in through sprays on the surface. The only problem with putting it on through the process of brushing is that it tends to smoothen the natural surface indentations, which are present over asphalt. Thus, reducing the traction provided by the surface. Hence, in surfaces where traction is essential for safety, it is recommended to do the sealant application through sprays. Hence, asphalt school areas such as basketball courts, paved walkaways etc. where children can run or play are ideal places.
Some newer techniques involve mixing the sealant mixture with sand to restore the traction on the surface.
Another area where asphalt school areas may need to be taken care of is when it starts developing cracks. This is attributed to the fact that asphalt can form cracks under heavy surface pressure, depression of the ground underneath, and water damage. As asphalt cracks, it becomes more susceptible to water damage. Water seeps into the cracks and damages the underlying support bed layer. This, in turn, gives rise to potholes and further cracks. Winter ice, which forms in the cracks, can further deteriorate the situation.
One of the more effective ways of taking care of such cracks is by using heated tar. At first, the debris and loose rocks are removed from the crack. Next, the tar is heated to a temperature of 375 degrees centigrade. It is squeezed in the crack to form a band with a width of about 4 inches. This is a temporary fix and helps in increasing its longevity.
The third way to fix asphalt paved areas such as play courts is through replacement of a section of the asphalt school areas using a saw. In this method, the damaged asphalt portion is cut to replace with a fresh layer of tar. Nowadays, many use infrared processes where the old asphalt layer is heated using an infrared heater and then a fresh layer on top is applied followed by compaction of both the layers. This results in a seamless layer and is much more effective.
However, in cases where the asphalt school areas such as the pathway or ground are damaged beyond repair its best to remove it completely and re-pave it.
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