Mastic Asphalt Crack Repairs

Great News! Mastic asphalt crack repairs are often straight forward to identify and rectified easily with the right specialist knowledge. Despite modern day liquid waterproofing break throughs and new technologies mastic asphalt still remains so versatile that it is in fact one of the ONLY materials in the modern day that can have very simple solutions.

As a specialised trade asphalt crack repairs are one of the most commonly requested problems, we deal with daily on our maintenance visits and are often with the right preparation and application rectified easily in a short time.

• Cracks & Splits can be caused by trapped moisture, water seeping into a crack or split can be very damaging. In winter time rainwater in slits/cracks often turns to ice expanding the water volume and as a result pushes against the asphalt increasing the crack. This pushing can cause then wrinkles/creasing cracks or splits often also due to thermal movement in the substrate or impact damage are very clear to see.

Impact damage and movement cracks are straight forward to see on or around pavement lights, shop front paving, exterior building to paving joint cracks, loading bays, car parks as well as the traditional walkways, steps, roofs and balconies due to its totally seamless waterproofing finish.

What you should know before you Authorise any Repairs to Mastic Asphalt Cracks

Consult with a Mastic Asphalt specialist first, mastic asphalt is a hot poured liquid waterproofing membrane material that is used for flat roofing, balconies, walkways, steps, floors, paving and basement tanking. The mastic asphalt coating is applied in varying degrees of thickness and membrane build ups to the surface substrate to form an extremely strong and watertight bituminous surface black in colour.

The bitumen element of any mastic asphalt coating should be especially noted when applying any form of repair product coating such as magical one coat sealants or online purchased mastic tube applied with guns. The oil based mastic compounds from these products leach into the mastic asphalt coating and will slowly break down the bituminous content as any oil-based product will attack the chemical properties of mastic asphalt and cause irreparable damage. A Non-Mastic Asphalt Specialist or responsive maintenance engineer will often use these in complete ignorance.

Mastic asphalt coatings contain a bituminous compound which is a by-product of the petroleum refinement within this compound are very tightly bound particles. Additional strength can be added for various uses of mastic asphalt coatings known as “grades “these have aggregate blended. Aggregate types can vary dependant on use but often limestone is used for roofing grades and granite is added for paving use. This material is known as mastic asphalt.

Stone Mastic Asphalt Problems are simple to avoid with the correct annual maintenance

Most products and manufactured construction materials have to be maintained so stands to reason if you want something to last you need to take care of it so use common sense. Water stains to ceiling and damp wall damage below balconies and walkways can often be caused by a defective stone mastic asphalt membrane. Small leaks are potential signs that tell early tales that unhindered can cause long terms problems when it comes to water ingress and it’s of high importance to make certain any asphalt surfaces are taken care of and repaired correctly.

Stone mastic asphalt surfaces coupled with deterioration, asphalt can become damaged, eroded or otherwise defective.

Specialist repairs and maintenance requires assessments of the exterior surface elements swiftly so that small problems do not become very unfortunate ones. This regular attention can aid in eliminating surface ageing and result in substantial rewards ultimately extending the life of the stone mastic asphalt by years.

Other Mastic Asphalt Problems which are Common if not annually Maintained by Approved Specialists

• Bumps on the flat surface

• Vertical upstands or flashings damaged

• Blistering of the Mastic Asphalt coating

• Wrinkles or splits appear

• Sagging and pulling surface problems

• Pooled or Standing water

• Rapid asphalt ageing

All of these issues can be easily rectified during annual maintenance visits by our specialist team of fully qualified mastic asphalt craftsmen.