How to Add Cracksealing to Your Services

by Kimberley Schmitt
Created: March 5, 2012

Before buying a cracksealing unit contractors need to know what type of cracksealing work - driveways, parking lots or roads - they plan to pursue.
Before buying a cracksealing unit contractors need to know what type of cracksealing work - driveways, parking lots or roads - they plan to pursue.
Safety is important and contractors should wear hard shoes, long pants and, if operating the machine, safety glasses.
Safety is important and contractors should wear hard shoes, long pants and, if operating the machine, safety glasses.
A clean and dry crack is critical to successful performance of the material. Contractors can use compressed air to blow the crack dry and clean using heat lances or a crack router.
A clean and dry crack is critical to successful performance of the material. Contractors can use compressed air to blow the crack dry and clean using heat lances or a crack router.
Contractors must use the correct material for their climate and match material quality to the job they are completing to guarantee a successful cracksealing job.
Contractors must use the correct material for their climate and match material quality to the job they are completing to guarantee a successful cracksealing job.
Cracksealing is a service that can extend the existing pavement life. It will help preserve pavement and prevent potholes and subgrade issues from occurring.
Cracksealing is a service that can extend the existing pavement life. It will help preserve pavement and prevent potholes and subgrade issues from occurring.

Several materials are available that contractors can use to protect the sealant including sand and boiler slag (marketed as Black Beauty). “We have the Sand Liner, a canister that will take Black Beauty and drop it right down on top of the crack,” Walter says. “The best part is if you are going to sealcoat that particular day you can hot pour crack fill and sealcoat within the hour.”

Other available blotting products include Emulso Corp.’s Glenzoil 20 Plus and Crafco’s Detack. “Detack is a biodegradable liquid that can be applied with a garden sprayer,” Pfuelb says. “That will be a bond breaker to prevent material from tracking.”

Avoiding Common Cracksealing Mistakes

Improper crack cleaning is a common mistake but contractors must also be aware of the required material temperature so they do not overheat it. “The sealants are made to have a specific application temperature range,” Pfuelb says. “If you overheat the material you damage the components of the sealant which will affect the performance of the material.”

Pavement condition is also important. “Not all pavements are good candidates for cracksealing,” Pfuelb says. “Wherever there is a crack that is an opportunity for water to infiltrate the pavement, but a pavement can become so badly damaged it is beyond the scope of cracksealing.” He says pavements with spider or alligator cracking are often unable to be repaired using cracksealing.

When looking at purchasing cracksealing equipment, contractors need to first decide how cracksealing will supplement their existing business and then purchase the correct equipment: too small will frustrate them and too big may never pay for itself.

“The bottom line is people need to look and think outside of the box,” Cameron says. “Contractors need to look at the long term profitability of their business.”