If you live in an area that sees some extreme temperatures and weather conditions all throughout the winter months, then you may notice that the weather takes a toll on your asphalt driveway. Freezing temperatures, snow, and the accumulation of ice can all cause cracks to develop in the asphalt surface. If you have tried some of the caulk or tube style crack fillers, then you know that these products crack and shrink themselves over time. So, what can be used to fill in these cracks more permanently?

Melt-In Materials

Melt-in crack fillers are very different from cold-pour products. Cold pour fillers are typically made with an acrylic or polymer-based material that retains some flex as it cures. Melt-in materials are made from a rubber compound that bonds to the inside of the crack. The rubber-based material can then move and flex as the crack flexes.

Melt-in crack fillers come in hard put pliable sticks. These sticks are placed directly into each crack and a torch can then be used to heat up and melt the fillers. As the filler melts, it fills in the crack and then hardens. The heat used to melt the sticks must be quite high. While a heat gun can be used, you will spend some time heating each section to its melting temperature. A propane or butane torch is a better and faster option. 

You should still expect to spend several hours filling, heating, and melting. Also, you should thoroughly clean each crack before adding in the melt-in sticks or your repair is likely to fail. 

Silica Epoxy

If you want a long-lasting repair and do not mind a small bit of discoloration, then you can opt for an epoxy and silica filler material. The epoxy in this material has an optimal strength and the ability to fill in wide openings and harden fully. The silica gives the epoxy durability against wear and tear that can force the filler away from the driveway.

The epoxy filler is a bit more expensive than other filler materials, so it is best used for smaller cracks. The material comes in a tube like other caulk fillers, so you can simply squeeze it into each crack after you have cleaned them out. While the epoxy is curing, gather some of the black stone material from your asphalt or some other small stones that match the color of your driveway. Spread these over the top of the filler. This will hide the gray coloring or the epoxy. However, the stones are likely to wear away over time. Contact a company, like J R Paving Co, for more help.