Insulation specialist Actis joined dozens of Jewson staff from branches across the North of England this month as they walked 130 miles from Widnes to Hull – and raised £30,000 for charity. It was one of a number of Jewson suppliers which provided activities and information along the route. Actis
Managing Director of Barrows and Forrester, James Forrester, commented: “The availability of stock on the market is the lifeblood of the property market and if it’s significantly short in volume. As a result, we can expect to see prices soar ever skyward as demand continues to outstrip supply, regardless of
Two lifesaving defibrillators have been donated by Cavanna Homes to the family and school of 12-year-old Ella Halfyard who was diagnosed with a serious heart condition earlier this year. One defibrillator has been installed at Torquay Girls’ Grammar School and the other is portable, which means that Ella and her
Building firms are being urged to carry on asking their workforce to wear masks while working in enclosed spaces or on busy sites by the Construction Leadership Council, CLC. The CLC is calling for a consistent approach in line with government guidance as rules on social distancing and face masks
SPONSORED ARTICLE When operating in a large-scale industrial environment, dust, gas and various particles can quickly accumulate if you do not have the right system to catch and process them. Industrial businesses will require a proper baghouse filter to effectively contain and eliminate unwelcome particles and harmful gases. But what
Research from national estate agent, Keller Williams UK, has revealed that Edinburgh is the UK’s most valuable pocket of the property market based on the average price and number of homes sold during the pandemic. Across the UK, 946,447 homes have been sold since January 2020 and with the current
Life insurance is definitely one of the more underrated types of insurance cover; younger individuals assume they won’t be needing the policy any time soon. Even older individuals feel that they won’t be the ones to benefit from the insurance policy when the unfortunate time arrives to claim. However, this
Insulated panels are high-quality building systems for commercial and residential construction. They’re sometimes referred to as structural insulated panels and they have an insulating structure that’s located beneath two structured facings. Insulated panels are made from durable materials, and an excellent feature of these panels is one can fabricate them
Sadly, summer days are not always sunny and bright. As with any season, rain can come and go at the worst times and in the summer especially this can scupper your plans for the day. But when the rain does fall at home, why not consider making the most of
Good asphalt driveways do not come cheap, so looking after yours is a must. With a well-maintained driveway, you can keep up your curb appeal, maximize functionality, and stave off the need for in-depth repairs within 10 years or less of installation. You see, it’s all too easy for driveways
Insulation specialist Actis joined dozens of Jewson staff from branches across the North of England this month as they walked 130 miles from Widnes to Hull – and raised £30,000 for charity. It was one of a number of Jewson suppliers which provided activities and information along the route. Actis regional sales director Jemma Harris and area sales managers Karolina Taylor and Louise South manned stands on three of the five days on which the event took place, inviting the Jewson team, their customers and passers by to try their hands at installing Hybris into a mock timber frame in exchange for an Actis branded T-shirt. The event saw staff from 13 branches and seven business units take part, with the proceeds being shared between two charities. Long-estabished Barnardo’s cares for vulnerable children, while Band of Builders helps members of the construction industry when times get tough, through projects, advice and support.
Managing Director of Barrows and Forrester, James Forrester, commented: “The availability of stock on the market is the lifeblood of the property market and if it’s significantly short in volume. As a result, we can expect to see prices soar ever skyward as demand continues to outstrip supply, regardless of the fact that the stamp duty bonanza may have finished.” Founder & Managing Director of Yes Homebuyers, Matthew Cooper, commented: “History tells us that such a meteoric rate of house price growth simply isn’t sustainable. The past 12 months or so may well have been good for the property industry and for sentiment overall however caution now prevails as we enter a second year of wildly increasing property values – a bubble if ever there was. The spectre of higher inflation and the Bank of England potentially responding with the blunt instrument of an increase in interest rate rather adds to the peril.” Founder and CEO of GetAgent.co.uk, Colby Short, commented: “The time it’s taking to sell a home has plummeted to just 38 days in June, an all time low. However, it’s important to note that this is the time it’s taking to agree a sale, not complete it, and sizable delays remain at the final stage of the transaction timeline. Now that the support from the temporary stamp duty relief has all but ended, we will inevitably see the market return to normality with demand diluting somewhat, price growth softening and time-to-sell increasing back to 45 to 50 days.”
Two lifesaving defibrillators have been donated by Cavanna Homes to the family and school of 12-year-old Ella Halfyard who was diagnosed with a serious heart condition earlier this year. One defibrillator has been installed at Torquay Girls’ Grammar School and the other is portable, which means that Ella and her family have peace of mind whether she’s at home or out and about. Cavanna Homes’ Sales Advisor Kevyn Dixon and Site Manager Willie Whitelaw, first became aware of Ella’s condition when her parents Lizzie and Tom Halfyard reserved a new five-bedroom home at Lyme View in the village of Holcombe near Dawlish. On the day they were due to collect the keys to their new home at the end of March, the couple were contacted by their daughter’s school to say an ambulance had been called for Ella. As Lizzie explained: “The alarm was raised because she’d been unresponsive at school and although she recovered, this brought home how serious her condition is and how vital it is that she has a defibrillator with her at all times.” The Halfyard’s were first alerted to Ella’s condition after she noticed some changes in her heart rate at school when resting, which was also confirmed by her PE Teacher. As a precaution, the keen young sportswoman had a temporary ECG monitor fitted at Torbay Hospital in February, but later the same week she was rushed to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children who were very concerned by the results. As Lizzie recalled: “The results from the monitor flagged that Ella’s heart was beating too fast and could stop at any minute. It was a very scary time for us and so unexpected.” Ella’s condition is now managed by beta-blockers which slow her heart rate and she will continue to be monitored for the next three years. “Ella is incredibly sporty and has always loved playing football, so having to give up sport has been very hard for her,” said Lizzie. Cavanna Homes purchased both defibrillators after learning that the family were trying to fundraise for the lifesaving equipment. Kevyn Dixon said: “As a Sales Advisor, you become close with the new homeowners and once I found out about Ella and everything her and her family have been through, it really struck a chord with me. I put the idea forward about purchasing the defibrillators for the family to the Senior Management Team and it was a unanimous yes!” Keith Miller, Managing Director added: “This is exactly the sort of thing we’re proud to do by giving back to the communities we build in and to support our new homeowners. We hope that by purchasing this vital piece of equipment for Ella and her school it will provide added peace of mind and allow Ella to continue thriving at school.” The equipment has been life-changing for Ella and provided reassurance for her parents Lizzie and Tom, and her two sisters Megan (15) and Rosie (7). “Ella can now attend school trips and join in activities without feeling like she’s missing out,” said dad Tom. “This was incredibly generous of Cavanna Homes and we’ll always be grateful to them,” he added. “We also want to say how much we love our new home”, said Lizzie. “As a new build, there’s no need to do any DIY which has freed up our time to focus on our family and Ella’s condition. As the youngest of 12 siblings, I can’t wait to get the family over to celebrate us moving in!”
Building firms are being urged to carry on asking their workforce to wear masks while working in enclosed spaces or on busy sites by the Construction Leadership Council, CLC. The CLC is calling for a consistent approach in line with government guidance as rules on social distancing and face masks relax from the 19th of July. “It is recommended the good practices the industry had adopted over the last 18 months are retained,” said the CLC in their public statement released today. It advises employers to make face coverings available for staff when they are working in crowded or enclosed spaces but are no longer wearing respiratory protective equipment. The CLC said its site operating procedures were still available as a reference to offer businesses across the supply chain consistency. Brokers Hank Zarihs Associates said SME builders were likely to support mask-wearing to protect staff and keep sick leave levels low – something property development finance lenders would also support. Government toughens face mask guidance The government appears to have backtracked on earlier announcements when it said face masks would no longer be necessary post the 19th of July. Yesterday it advised people to wear masks in shops and at work and that table service would remain at bars. London’s mayor Sadiq Khan has announced that mask-wearing would continue to be mandatory for tube and bus travellers. Greater Manchester’s mayor Andy Burnham has said that passengers using the city’s tram service would have to wear masks. Major retailers such as Sainsbury’s and Waterstones have asked customers visiting their outlets to wear masks. Mask-wearing in enclosed spaces and on public transport will continue to be mandatory in Wales and Scotland.
SPONSORED ARTICLE When operating in a large-scale industrial environment, dust, gas and various particles can quickly accumulate if you do not have the right system to catch and process them. Industrial businesses will require a proper baghouse filter to effectively contain and eliminate unwelcome particles and harmful gases. But what do you need to look out for to make sure that you get the most out of your baghouse filters? In this article, we’ll walk you through key elements of the filter system to ensure optimal performance. The checklist for troubleshooting potential issues The industrial-sized air pollution control devices are quite complex systems that require significant maintenance and supervision to ensure a safe and clean working environment. If you are having problems with your baghouse filters, it may be due to the overloading of dust or simply unreliable cleaning systems. To maintain a reliable industrial dust collector, you should pay special attention to: Airflow – If the level of cleaning for the filters do not match the dust loading, it may cause issues with the airflow. Some may install a longer bag or a new collector with an increased bag capacity, while others switch to pleated bags to enlarge the filter area. Cleaning air – A way for you to ensure better cleaning from the baghouse filter, is to ensure that the tanks are completely free of any moisture and debris, which can negatively affect the cleaning performance. Drop-out box – The larger the distance between the bottom of your filters and the hopper, which is called the drop-out box, the fewer larger particles reach the filter surface area which can negatively influence the airflow. you can optimise this by switching to smaller pleated bags or increasing the surface area. Emission – A change of your regular filter media may be required due to emission regulations. This provides an ideal opportunity for upgrading your filter to help reduce emissions. Filter media choice – Dust is not just dust. The size of the particles can vary a lot and each type has its own characteristics. Be sure to select a proper material that can filter the intended particles. Your choice may depend on the level of humidity and temperature as well as the requirement for resistance to dust particles and chemicals. Pulse sequence & frequency – The selected pulse sequence should prevent cross-contamination, where dust from dirty filters spread to clean filters. Your baghouse filter also should never have a pulsing frequency that is faster than the reservoir can handle without hurting performance. Reservoir – Too small and restrictive components can result in poor filter cleaning. Make sure that there are no restrictions from the compressor to the reservoir. Your tank size should also be able to handle your requirements for cleaning. Avoid underperforming baghouse filters If you do not respond to performance issues in a timely manner, you may increase the risk of causing bottlenecks and negatively impact your production costs. There are no complete guarantees, but you can help ensure a long service life for your baghouse filter with efficient troubleshooting.
Research from national estate agent, Keller Williams UK, has revealed that Edinburgh is the UK’s most valuable pocket of the property market based on the average price and number of homes sold during the pandemic. Across the UK, 946,447 homes have been sold since January 2020 and with the current average UK house price at £250,772, this equates to a bricks and mortar value of £237.4bn. Richest Property Regions The South East is the richest property region of the UK at present, with 140,571 transactions completing during the pandemic at an average of £329,849, totalling £46.4bn in property sold property values. Despite much being made of the decline of the London market, 85,411 transactions have still taken place across London since the start of the pandemic. With an average house price of £485,956, this equates to a staggering £41.5bn in sold property values – the second highest of all areas of the UK. Northern Ireland has seen just 25,103 homes sold since the start of 2020 at an average of just £144,059. Despite being home to the lowest total sum of property sold, the nation has still seen £3.6bn of homes change hands. Richest Local Authorities However, when analysing the market at local authority level, it’s Edinburgh that ranks as the UK’s richest property market. 10,740 homes have been sold across the city since January 2020 at an average of £280,287, totalling an estimated £3bn in value. Edinburgh is closely followed by Wandsworth with a total of £2.8bn in sold property during the pandemic. Cornwall also ranks high at £32.4bn in homes sold, with Bromley (£2.2bn) and Leeds (£2.175m) also making the top five. CEO of Keller Williams UK, Ben Taylor, commented: “The UK property market has been booming and it’s interesting to see the regional variations of this performance in terms of current values, transaction volumes and house price growth. However, it’s Edinburgh that has seen the strongest pandemic property market performance when considering both transaction levels and property values and the total sold value of properties that have changed hands. That said, the wider health of the current market is more than evident when analysed on this basis with cities and towns from all over the UK featuring in the top performers. While the tapered end of the stamp duty holiday may have some impact, there’s no doubting that we’re on course for a seriously impressive year from a property standpoint.” Table shows the total value of property sold based on transaction volumes and the average house price Location Pandemic Transactions Average house price Total estimated value of homes sold South East 140,571 £329,849 £46,367,213,864 London 85,411 £485,956 £41,505,981,288 East of England 93,962 £296,965 £27,903,459,409 South West 92,212 £266,486 £24,573,162,845 North West 104,575 £172,935 £18,084,650,336 Scotland 103,354 £157,265 £16,253,927,363 West Midlands Region 75,248 £205,891 £15,492,875,817 East Midlands 70,883 £202,137 £14,328,101,582 Yorkshire and The Humber 78,258 £171,488 £13,420,295,497 Wales 39,903 £171,490 £6,842,970,223 North East 36,967 £132,515 £4,898,674,312 Northern Ireland 25,103 £144,059 £3,616,306,591 England 778,087 £265,490 £206,574,414,951 United Kingdom 946,447 £250,772 £237,342,407,084 Sources UK House Price Index (Jan 2020 to Feb 2021 – latest available data) Average value x transaction volume Table shows the areas of the UK market to see the highest value of transactions during the pandemic Location Pandemic Transactions Average house price Total estimated value of homes sold City of Edinburgh 10,740 £280,287 £3,010,280,674 Wandsworth 4,574 £609,392 £2,787,360,997 Cornwall 9,791 £245,468 £2,403,380,298 Bromley 5,046 £438,111 £2,210,708,952 Leeds 11,123 £195,461 £2,174,114,541 Birmingham 11,156 £192,971 £2,152,780,840 Wiltshire 7,655 £279,742 £2,141,428,705 Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole 7,285 £287,647 £2,095,511,521 Dorset 6,841 £295,890 £2,024,183,950 Kensington and Chelsea 1,517 £1,323,585 £2,007,878,999 Belfast 14,381 £137,784 £1,981,469,854 Richmond upon Thames 2,857 £683,839 £1,953,726,787 City of Westminster 1,961 £960,840 £1,884,206,381 Barnet 3,535 £528,189 £1,867,147,536 City of Bristol 6,318 £295,315 £1,865,800,647 Sources UK House Price Index (Jan 2020 to Feb 2021 – latest available data) Average value x transaction volume
Life insurance is definitely one of the more underrated types of insurance cover; younger individuals assume they won’t be needing the policy any time soon. Even older individuals feel that they won’t be the ones to benefit from the insurance policy when the unfortunate time arrives to claim. However, this type of insurance is just as beneficial and essential as auto insurance, disability insurance, and various other insurance policies. So, if you are a bit divided about whether or not you should purchase relevant life insurance, here are the most valuable benefits this type of cover has to offer. Protect The Best Interest Of Loved Ones Left Behind Whether you are an income contributor or the sole breadwinner in your household, if anyone depends on your income, life insurance will protect them from poverty when you are no longer there to provide. The payout can be assigned to the most trusted dependant that relies on your income, and you can specify its intended use in your last will. An Inheritance For Your Children If you’re a parent, there’s no doubt that you want to leave something behind for your children. Because a life insurance payout can be used as an inheritance, your children will have a substantial amount of money to give them a bit of a helping hand in life. Suppose your time arrives before you can see your children enroll in a university. In this case, the policy can be used to pay for their education or even assist with housing when you are no longer there to provide. Leave No Debt Burden Behind If you have any debts, there’s a possibility that your descendants will inherit your debts if you pass on before you can settle any loans and financing plans you have. This can be a significant burden to any family; even if they can survive without your income support, having to cover debts can set a family back substantially. A life insurance payout can cover your debts for you, leaving no debt burden behind for your loved ones to carry. Peace Of Mind Even though you won’t be the one to cash in on your life insurance policy, having one will ultimately bring your genuine peace of mind. Your family will be cared for, your debts will be covered, and your funeral costs will likely be included in your policy benefits. So, you won’t have to stress and worry about the well-being of your loved ones if your time arrives before you can create substantial savings to hand over. Not everyone has the means to build wealth in their bank accounts due to various reasons. Life insurance offers the perfect solution for professionals and income providers that want to protect the best interests of their loved ones. The small monthly premium will amount to a massive payout that can keep our loved ones in financial comfort for quite some time in the event of your unexpected death.
Insulated panels are high-quality building systems for commercial and residential construction. They’re sometimes referred to as structural insulated panels and they have an insulating structure that’s located beneath two structured facings. Insulated panels are made from durable materials, and an excellent feature of these panels is one can fabricate them to suit almost all building designs. The panels aren’t only affordable but they’re also energy-friendly and they usually yield a very strong building. Precisely, building your structures using insulated panels saves you labor, money, and time. Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are employed in several businesses such as construction, aerospace, and automotive. When the panels are brought to you right from the factory, they’re ready for use instantly. The good news is one can use them for roof, ceiling, or wall. One can fit them as a supportive structure and use them as a covering at the same time. When this is done, be sure that the insulation properties are being maximized. Due to the aforementioned properties, insulated panels are popular today for their use as roofs in residential houses, construction of lightweight halls, and soundproof materials in drywall buildings. Read on to know more about choosing and installing insulated panels. Factors To Consider When Choosing Insulated Panels Insulated panels aren’t hard to be found. Initially, these panels were limited to be used in the industrial sector. However, their use today is diverse as they’re now employed in gyms, schools, churches, homes, transport terminals, and sports centers. Still, deciding which insulated panel to use can be a technical task. The most affordable panel like polystyrene may not be your best choice at times. Worse, it can compromise productivity, interfering with the efficiency of the building or even risking the life of the users. With this, several factors should be considered before choosing an insulating panel. Here are the following: 1. Purpose Of The Building Considering the use of the structure, a panel for both wall and ceiling will differ. For instance, office buildings require smoother panels in comparison to product warehouses. Thus, it’s important to identify the purpose of the building before choosing an insulated panel as this will help determine the best material to choose. No one wants to risk their lives or have a structure that won’t last because of using poor materials. 2. Technical Considerations This refers to the factors affecting the safety of the construction. One of these is the features of the panel regarding load resistance on the roof. This is a crucial parameter for those living in areas with harsh winters. Another factor is wind resistance. For all buildings with a huge height or those on the coast, this too should be considered. For locations with hurricanes or other related phenomena, the panel to be used should be wind-resistant as well. Again, water tightness and major and secondary structures of the construction should be taken into account too. 3. Climate The climate is a key determinant in choosing the panel to install in your building. For example, the coast has considerably salty air, so this aspect is vital to determine the type of paint to be used. If your residence is in a hot area, an insulating panel that’s reflective is the best option. In addition, rain, snow, humidity, and wind need to be assessed to choose the best panel. 4. Insulation Features The thermal feature is important and determined by the form core used, the material, and the thickness. For example, one can’t use a similar panel for a cold warehouse and a furniture store. With this said, before picking a panel for one’s building, it’s crucial to consider the R-value. R-value refers to a rating that’s used in defining the thermal resistance of a material per square inch. There are usually minimum fixed R-values for all new residences, and they vary among different jurisdictions. To lower energy bills, one is advised to set the R-value above the lowest specified value. To determine one’s R-value, get a professional to provide it, which is usually after considering one’s specification in mind. 5. Aesthetics Aesthetics is a principal factor in architecture. The appealing effect of a building covers the combined aspects of a building’s size, texture, shape, unity, color, balance, contrast, emphasis, space, symmetry, proportion, decoration, pattern, alignment, context, and culture. A building shouldn’t only satisfy durability, safety, serviceability, but also aesthetics. Though peoples’ needs vary, it’s important to pick insulated panels that’ll give your building a stylish and modern appearance. 6. Ecological Aspects The insulating panel to be used should have recycling properties, reduced energy use, and a low effect on the environment. Consumers and businesses are opting for green choices. Thus, pick a panel with reduced carbon footprints. Rest assured that this doesn’t mean the panel will be low in efficiency and productivity. 7. Materials Used To Build Your Home The materials used in constructing your residence pose a big impact on the thermal mass you’ll be tackling. Materials like concrete and brick have the potential to store heat and release it slowly. Thus, the building material is a key factor to consider before picking an insulated panel. Again, one should also examine windows and doors. This is because double-glazed windows will result in saving huge amounts of heat in one’s home. Insulating panels aren’t similar. They come in different materials, among other differences. The most expensive panel may not always be the best one for your building, so it’s advisable to go through the characteristics of the insulated panels to choose one that fully fits your project. The above-discussed factors will greatly help one in picking ideal panels. Installing Insulated Panels A crew of 3-4 people is needed in the installation process of these panels. A few types of equipment are required other than construction tools, including sealant guns, circular saws, band saws, and other materials. One can install the panels from a lift or the ground. Materials may be staged on the ground level or interior floors. Typically, panel installation results
Sadly, summer days are not always sunny and bright. As with any season, rain can come and go at the worst times and in the summer especially this can scupper your plans for the day. But when the rain does fall at home, why not consider making the most of a rainy day by doing a few DIYs? Whether before or during a rainy day, these DIYs will help you spruce up the home and bring it back to life. Repaint the house Repainting your house now and again is an important piece of maintenance to make your house shine. You can take all of those random half paint tins you have around the house and use them to top up the paint colours in every room. Even if you think your walls are white, once you apply a fresh coat you’ll see how much it has faded! Clean your grout Grout between the tiles of your bathroom or kitchen can be a pain to keep clean, and over time the brig white grout will turn to a greyish colour that looks mucky and dull. To prevent this happening, why not consider cleaning your grout this week while it’s raining outside? A mixture of baking soda and water can be used as a thick paste and applied with a toothbrush to your grout. Scrub well and rinse off to reveal bright white colour once more. This will make a big difference to your tiles and it will make the whole room look cleaner. Fix the roof This is not a tip for the rainy day itself – but rather in preparation for it. Getting round to fixing a leaking roof can be an arduous task, but it is important to do this as soon as you spot an issue to keep the structural integrity of your property. The next time you see that rain is around the corner, make sure to fix the roof and ensure that it is sealed and dry ready for the downpour. Deep clean the carpets One great task for you to do now and again at home is deep cleaning the carpets. This is a job you can do once or twice a year – but a rainy day is the ideal time to do this. Use a vax machine to steam clean your carpets and get rid of any dirt that is deep within the fibres. Make sure to turn the heating on afterwards to help the house dry and keep you cosy. Rearrange the space On a rainy day you might want to play around with the arrangement of your home and consider different ways to place furniture in your rooms. This is a great idea now and again because it will instantly refresh the home and ensure that it looks clean, tidy, and spacious once more. Plus, it can be fun changing things up once in a while. Use some of these ideas to perform DIY on your home for a rainy day.
Good asphalt driveways do not come cheap, so looking after yours is a must. With a well-maintained driveway, you can keep up your curb appeal, maximize functionality, and stave off the need for in-depth repairs within 10 years or less of installation. You see, it’s all too easy for driveways to become damaged. In fact, it’s inevitable. With the natural elements constantly working away at the asphalt surface, cracks and potholes are sure to show sooner or later. But, with the best asphalt driveway maintenance tips, you can keep your driveway in tip-top shape and extend its life by several decades. So, without further ado, here are the key dos and don’ts that you need to know for general driveway maintenance jobs as well as small and large asphalt cracks. General Driveway Maintenance Dos and Don’ts Asphalt driveway upkeep requires a certain amount of dedication. It’s important that you stay on top of your driveway’s maintenance to ensure it looks and functions at its best for many years to come. These general dos and don’ts will help you do just that. Clean Dokeep your driveway clear of debris and litter by sweeping regularly. This will help to improve drainage, avoid standing water, and prevent existing damage such as potholes and asphalt cracks from getting any worse. Do use a pressure washer to remove dirt and oil from the surface of your driveway. Dirt and oil can contaminate the asphalt and compromise the bonding agent that was used during installation. Do not regularly use harsh chemicals to clean your asphalt surface. Repeated use of products like bleach can, over time, cause your driveway to erode. Instead, invest in and use a cleaning agent designed specifically for asphalt surfaces. Seal Do seal your asphalt driveway regularly, roughly once every three years or so. This will help to reinforce the strength of the surface, preventing cracking, erosion, and other damage that can cause bigger structural issues. Do use a professional-grade asphalt emulsion sealer or coal tar pavement sealer to ensure great results that last a long time. Do consider investing in a DIY seal coat sprayer or similar piece of driveway sealing equipment if you plan to do seal your driveway yourself. Or, failing that, a squeegee should do the job just fine. Do seal your driveway in warm, dry conditions, ideally when it’s around 50ºF or higher outside. Otherwise, your seal coat is unlikely to cure properly. Do not attempt to seal your driveway during or just before it rains. Do not seal your driveway every single year. Eventually, over-sealing can lead to unsightly peeling and cracking, and this can let in water. Inspect Do regularly check your driveway for damage, particularly around the joints and in areas that typically hold heavy loads. Do not ignore even slight cracks in your asphalt surface. These will let in water and debris which can cause erosion beneath the surface of the driveway. As such, even the smallest signs of damage can lead to big problems if left untreated. Read on for more information on what you need to do to fix them. Small Driveway Cracks: The Dos and Don’ts Small cracks are more than just eyesores. They can become increasingly problematic over time and, as such, require immediate attention. Here’s what you need to do when small cracks appear in your asphalt driveway and, of course, what not to do. Materials Do invest in quality materials that can guarantee long-lasting repairs. Ideally, you should opt for a rubberized asphalt tar tape that can be burnt on and create a strong seal within the crack. However, if you don’t have the means to carry out that sort of repair, cold asphalt driveway repair with a superior sealant should be sufficient. Do follow the instructions on your crack filling material of choice to ensure a smooth and secure finish. Do not use tar tape or cold driveway crack sealer to repair cracks that are more than an inch wide and half an inch deep. The bond simply will not be strong enough to adequately repair the damage. Equipment Do purchase a torch burner if you’re opting to fill asphalt driveway cracks with tar tape. Any other heat source likely won’t be hot enough to melt the rubberized tape or safe enough to use for DIY asphalt repair. Do use heat-proof safety equipment when operating a torch burner, including fire-resistant gloves and, if necessary, boot covers and an apron. Do not use poor quality equipment or any equipment other than that which has been specified on the instructions for your driveway crack repair material. Method Do clean asphalt cracks thoroughly before beginning your repairs. Do apply your materials according to instructions. If using tar tape, this will likely include removing a protective backing, laying the tape down along the length of a crack, and burning it on with a torch burner. However, directions may vary depending on the product you purchase. Do allow your materials to dry for the length of time specified on the instructions before parking cars or walking on your asphalt driveway. With tar tape, drying is near-instant. Do not attempt to fill cracks yourself unless you have all of the necessary application and safety equipment. Large Driveway Crack Dos and Don’ts It probably won’t come as a surprise to learn that large cracks in your asphalt driveway are even more cause for concern than small ones. So, you’ll need to do something about them as soon as possible. If you don’t, they will only continue to expand and contribute to deeper structural damage. This is what you should and should not do to repair large cracks in asphalt driveway. Equipment Do only buy superior asphalt repair equipment. The best option available to you is an asphalt crack sealer machine, which can easily apply hot sealant to gaps that are more than an inch wide and half an inch deep. Do ensure you do your research when shopping around for an asphalt crack
