Can sidewalk chalk damage your asphalt?

23 August 2021

It’s the beautiful season, your little family loves to be outside and enjoy the joys of summer. One of them is most certainly, for the kids at least, to draw on the asphalt with sidewalk chalk. Could this practice damage your asphalt? What can you do to prevent your new asphalt from breaking? This is what the following article will try to demystify so that you can enjoy your outdoors this summer with peace of mind.

What is asphalt

Foremost, it’s good to understand what the asphalt that covers your driveway is made of. It is indeed the most commonly used coating, whether for driveways or garage entrances, but also for more industrial or commercial areas. It is a mixture of petroleum by-products and stone aggregates that has multiple advantages, but it is still necessary to know how to maintain it correctly in order to retain its qualities as well as possible and protect its lifespan.

Children’s games

You can reassure your children that they can continue to draw with chalk in the driveway or continue their hopscotch games since the latter should not damage your asphalt driveway. Chalk is usually made of plaster or talc and wipes off easily with water. You should be more wary of oil or spills that could come from your vehicle and which can contribute to the precarious decomposition of the asphalt. The same is true for stagnant water which could gnaw the asphalt. Other dangers could hide in the roots of trees, planted near your driveway and which could end up lifting the surface, or even in direct sunlight which could dry out your surface and encourage the appearance of cracks.

Prevention

In all cases, prevention can save a lot of worries and a good asphalt coating could give you peace of mind. Asphalt sealer or coating is a product that helps maintain and protect the pavement. It helps maintain the appearance of the asphalt area for many years while maintaining its properties. It acts as a sort of tonic. Usually installed several months after the first installation of the asphalt pavement, it will then be redone every 6 years or so. There are two main types of coating that is acrylic and bitumen. The first consists of acrylic resin and aims to extend the life of your asphalt while improving its appearance. It is also protection against chemicals, oil, salt or extreme weather conditions. The second, the bitumen coating is composed of oil and also protects your asphalt while letting it breathe.

So if your last coating is a bit dated, it may be time to call the professionals to avoid inconvenience and deterioration of your asphalt. Do not hesitate to ask questions, a good professional will always be happy to answer them and advise you the best solution for your situation.