Services
Infrared Asphalt Repair
How does it work?
Measuring and quoting.
First the damaged asphalt is measured to determine how many heats are needed to fix the troubled area. We have different sized heaters for different projects. Our most popular heater is six feet by eight feet. Because we leave an undisturbed six inches around the perimeter, the heater can do a five feet by seven feet repair. Of course we can do multiple heats if the damage is larger than five by seven.
Cleaning and positioning.
Our two-man crew then cleans and dries the problem area. Leaves, sand, and loose aggregate can cause a repair failure. A small amount of water can remain as the heater will quickly boil it off. In fact, leaves and grass can remain as well - the heater will take care of them. We use a blower to remove unwanted debris. Once we are comfortable with the surface preparation, we may position large chunks of asphalt that can be recycled into the heating zone. These will be heated along with the base and surrounding areas and used for the repair, preventing a trip to the landfill.
Heating.
Our crew then positions and lowers the I.R. unit over the problem area and begins to heat the asphalt underneath. The heater is propane fired and contains a certain metal in a certain configuration that generates the idea infrared wavelength to penetrate the asphalt. We do not put fire on the surface as this will scorch the asphalt and burn off the asphaltenes. Our method generates the most "melt" and the least "burn". During the heating process, the tools used to replace and level the new repair are often placed at the very edge of the heater to heat them up for the repair.
Scarifying.
After the asphalt has been warmed back up to approximately 350°F, it assumes the same workability it had when it was first laid. Our repair crew then rakes the asphalt leaving a heated section around the repair undisturbed, this is key for a seamless repair. The scarifying allows new asphalt to be added to the repair and mixed with the old. If there is a layer of asphalt below the current top layer, we will attempt to heat and scarify it as well, which will attach our patch to the lower layer as well.
Rejuvenating.
Asphalt rejuvenator is applied to the reheated asphalt, reintroducing oils and asphaltenes that have been lost due to oxidation over the years. Occasionally we will also use the rejuvenator prior to heating. We do this if the asphalt has become too reflective over the years. Reflective asphalt means that the infrared will have a difficult time penetrating.
Adding, leveling, and compacting.
New asphalt is added from our on-board hotbox which maintains the material at the correct temperature for use. Asphalt that is too cold will not adhere properly. Once the material has been mixed with existing asphalt, it is leveled, bringing the repair to grade. The asphalt is then compacted, starting at the outside and moving in. This is done so that the new material can be compacted into the heated but undisturbed zone, providing a jointless, water proof seam.
Results.
The result of this process is a perfectly watertight, level and seamless repair. Without a seam for water to penetrate and freeze in the winter, and no seam or hump for snowplow blades to catch. Infrared asphalt repair is a one and done process and we guarantee our repairs. Each repetition of the process takes approximately 60 minutes, leading to a reduction in roadway closure times.
