Crack filling and crack sealing are often used interchangeably, so many people don’t realize that there’s actually a difference between crack filling and crack sealing. Both crack filling and crack sealing work as a solution to keep cracks in your asphalt from spreading and minimizing damage. However, depending on the type of cracks your asphalt has, you’ll likely be better off with one or the other. It’s important to take care of any cracks in your asphalt as soon as possible before they get the chance to spread or dirt and debris get into them, both of which can cause you to need entirely new asphalt. 

Here is what you need to know about the difference between crack filling and crack sealing so that you can be better informed about which you should opt for. If you ever have any doubts or questions, we here at Precision Asphalt Maintenance are more than happy to help you determine the best way to take care of your asphalt.

What Is Crack Filling?

Crack filling is used for non-working cracks, aka cracks that don’t have much in the way of vertical or horizontal motion each year. The filling keeps water, dirt, debris, and other such things out of the crack, which helps to extend the lifespan of your asphalt. As the name suggests, crack filling involves filling the cracks with asphalt. 

What Is Crack Sealing?

Crack sealing is used for working cracks, aka cracks that move vertically or horizontally each year. This is because crack sealing uses rubberized products to seal the crack closed and is able to handle how asphalt naturally expands and contracts with differences in temperatures. Crack sealing doesn’t just fill the crack, but also applies the sealant over it, protecting it while still allowing for movement. Crack sealing tends to last longer than crack filling because of this.

What Causes Cracks In Your Asphalt?

Cracks can be caused by a large variety of things. It’s an unfortunate inevitability that your asphalt will crack eventually, even if you take stellar care of it. Nothing lasts forever after all. How many loads your asphalt must endure and the elements it’s exposed to can affect its cracks.

Some of the most common causes of cracks in your asphalt include: moisture, poor construction, loads, temperature, vehicle traffic, and more.

Types Of Cracks

Depending on the type of crack you have, the difference between crack filling and crack sealing can be critical in ensuring that your cracks are taken care of properly. 

As previously mentioned, there are two main types of cracks: working and non-working. It’s best to find cracks when they’re non-working, as they are easier to repair. While a main difference between crack filling and crack sealing is what type of crack they’re used for, deep cracks can require sealing, even if they’re non-working. 

Some of the different types of cracks include:

Non-Working

These are cracks that generally don’t move. 

• Alligator, aka fatigue cracking. These look like alligator scales because they’re multiple cracks that are interconnected. These tend to be caused by loads.
• Diagonal. These go diagonally from the centerline of your pavement.
• Longitudinal. These are parallel to the centerline of your pavement and can be caused by temperature, shrinking, and poor construction.

Working

These are cracks that tend to move each year.

• Seam. These are along the joints of your asphalt and are usually the result of poor paving.
• Edge. These are on the edges of your asphalt. They can be worsened by moisture.
• Transverse. These are perpendicular to your pavement’s centerline. 
• Block. These are square-like cracks that show your asphalt is on its last legs. They can happen because of poor drainage or poor construction.

These are but some of the different types of cracks you can encounter.

How Do You Know Whether You Need Crack Filling Or Crack Sealing?

It can be difficult for many people to determine the best way to take care of the cracks in their asphalt, even if they’re aware of the difference between crack filling and crack sealing. If ever you’re uncertain about the best way to take care of your pavement, it’s best to contact a professional, like Precision Asphalt Maintenance. That way, you can ensure that your cracks are properly taken care of and that your asphalt will last for as long as possible.

Do You Need Professional Asphalt Services?

Precision Asphalt Maintenance provides all sorts of professional asphalt services, including crack sealing. To learn more about the difference between crack filling and crack sealing and to schedule a repair service, don’t hesitate to contact us today!