Crack Sealing in Beaumont, TX

Crack sealing is the least expensive asphalt work there is, and in a place with as much rain as Beaumont, it may be the most valuable. Every open crack lets water down into the base. Once the base is wet, traffic starts breaking up the surface around the crack, and a thin line becomes a pothole. Sealing cracks while they are still narrow stops that cycle before it starts.

Filling versus sealing

Crack filling packs a crack with material to keep debris and water out. Crack sealing uses a flexible, hot-applied sealant, often after the crack is routed and cleaned, so it stays bonded as the pavement moves. For working cracks that open and close with heat and moisture, sealing lasts longer.

When to seal

Cracks are widest in dry weather, so a dry spell is the best time to get sealant deep into them. Sealing before the rainy months and before any seal coat gives the best results.

What we do

• Blow out dirt and vegetation
• Route wider cracks to create a clean reservoir
• Apply hot sealant and band it over the edges
• Note any cracks that are signs of base failure

When cracking means more

Wide alligator cracking, cracks with sunken edges or cracks that are pumping water and fines mean the base has failed. Sealing will not fix those; patching will. We point them out.

Clay and cracking

The clays around Beaumont swell when wet and shrink when dry, which keeps cracks moving. A flexible sealant can move with them.

Crack sealing on parking lots

On commercial lots, crack sealing is usually done before seal coating and restriping, as part of a maintenance cycle. It costs far less than patching, and it keeps lots from developing potholes at entrances and drive lanes.

How long does it last?

Good crack sealant stays flexible for several years. Cracks keep forming as asphalt ages, so plan on resealing new cracks every year or two, often along with a seal coat.

Cost and value

HomeGuide lists crack filling or sealing at about $0.50 to $3 per linear foot. A driveway with a few dozen feet of cracks costs little to seal compared with a pothole repair later.

Driveways versus lots

On a home driveway, crack sealing is usually a short job done before a seal coat. On a commercial lot, it is done in sections so traffic can keep moving, and the sealant needs time to set before cars cross it. We plan both around the weather, since dry pavement is a must.

What to watch for

Check your asphalt each spring and fall. New cracks wider than a credit card, cracks with grass growing in them and cracks along edges are the ones to seal first.

Crack sealing before seal coating

If you plan to seal coat, seal cracks first. Seal coat alone will not keep water out of open cracks, and the cracks will show through within months.