FEATURE
Thielbar stated and described the three primary categories of seal crack sealant methods being sold on the market today : Cold Pour , Direct Fire and Oil Jacketed sealants . Oil Jacketed hot-applied crack sealants are considered by many to be the most cost effective in the long term for any commercial or road application . Direct Fire and Cold Pour can be a solution for home owners , but do not have the longevity for over-the-road usage or larger parking lot areas . Crack Sealing ( routed , cleaned , sealed ) is the best method in this area , but Crack Filling ( cleaned with high power air , and sealed ) is the most bang for the buck when it comes to lane miles and production . Cold pour sealants are simple to use , completely safe to apply and can be installed by a homeowner with household tools . But do not expect these sealants to last more than a year or two and they should not be used in high traffic or high load conditions . Direct fire sealants and melters are commonly available at asphalt sealant manufacturers and some hardware stores . Direct fire melters are more difficult to operate as they require constant attention to the heating and temperature levels that the sealant is being subjected to . These units are hand operated and generally are wheeled melter applicators that are rolled around a parking lot . Overheating of the crack sealant can be an issue with direct fire units so the operator must understand temperature specifications of the sealant and safe application procedures . Oil jacketed melters are considerably safer to operate and much simpler to use . Many of the units being sold today are completely automated , with simplified user controls that reduce the startup and operation to a single switch and observable temperature indicators and controllers . These units are generally available in a variety of sizes from 60-gallon material tanks up to 400 plus gallon tanks with conveyer belt automated material loading . The sealant is delivered to the ground using a sealant pump , an ergonomically designed application wand and electrically heated hose that is both safer to handle and comfortable for an operator to use on a day-long shift . Oil jacketed melters will give the most production of any method and also maintain the crack sealant so that it is applied at the proper temperature , agitated , not over heated in the kettle , and provides the longest life span when applied . Mastic Applicators that are oil jacketed are also a great resource for wide cracks , distressed areas with cracks close together , and shallow potholes . Understanding the dynamics of the stresses that asphalt pavement experience over its life will help when addressing the cracks that emerge and how best to treat them .
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