Repair Your Asphalt Surfaces With Infrared Patching

The first step in the restoration process is to heat the asphalt sufficiently so that it will soften to the necessary depth. The heating must be carefully controlled to prevent damage to any of the asphalt.

The only practical means to accomplish this is through the use of infrared heat. The characteristics of an infrared ray are such that they are absorbed into an opaque solid matter, in this case the asphalt pavement.

As the rays are absorbed, the asphalt is heated without the surface burning. Conversely, attempting to heat asphalt with an open flame, hot iron, or heated air (convection heat) will burn the asphalt long before it is adequately softened.

Unique infrared converters are extremely efficient generators of infrared energy. They are designed to concentrate the infrared heat directly into the asphalt while venting away excess convection heat. In comparison with a cold/hot patch, even when done correctly, the finished repair is left with a cold seam where hot asphalt from an infrared meets the existing pavement.

With a cold patch, this cold seam is the “weak link” and it is where water will eventually re-enter the repair and cause it to fail. Infrared is a higher cost fix, but a proper fix that in time will save your asphalt with fewer repairs and a cheaper overall cost.