Why Routing Is Important Before Sealing Cracks

Routing creates a reservoir that improves how sealant performs. Before sealing, make sure to route the crack to remove loose debris and create the best conditions for repairs. By cutting a clean channel along the crack with specialized equipment, you’ll create a reservoir that’s wider at the top than the original crack, ensuring a longer-lasting result. Let's explore all the reasons why routing is important before sealing cracks.

Provides a Clean Surface

Routing removes all the loose material, dirt, and vegetation that accumulates in cracks over time. This cleaning process results in an optimal bonding surface for the sealant. By eliminating contaminants, the sealant can adhere directly to the solid pavement structure, rather than to unstable debris. This direct bond is crucial for the integrity and longevity of the crack repair.

Allows for Sealant Adhesion

The routed channel provides more surface area for the sealant to grip compared to a narrow, unrouted crack. This increased contact area distributes stress more evenly across the repair.

Routing is important before sealing cracks because it creates vertical walls that contain the sealant during application. These walls prevent the material from flowing away from the crack before it cures, ensuring you get a complete fill and coverage throughout the entire depth of the repair.

Protects Repair from the Freeze-Thaw Cycle

When temperatures drop, asphalt contracts and puts stress on crack repairs. The wider reservoir from routing accommodates thermal movement more effectively than narrow cracks filled with sealant. Routed repairs flex with this movement because the sealant has room to compress and expand.

Extends the Life of the Repair

All these benefits combine to create repairs that last longer than unrouted alternatives. Maintenance can save money in the long run by reducing the need for frequent repairs. With the right techniques and materials, these repairs can hold up reliably for many years.

Get Professional Results With Quality Equipment

For successful crack routing, you’ll need a crack filling router, of course, as well as the right asphalt crack repair equipment to clean and fill the crack once you’ve prepared it. Use NAC Supply’s trusted products for the job—shop our website today to explore cleaning and filling supplies that you can use to neatly and efficiently fix any crack in your pavement.