Crack Sealing vs. Crack Filling: What’s the Difference & Why It Matters for Your Southeast Ohio Property
Crack Sealing vs. Crack Filling: What’s the Difference & Why It Matters for Your Southeast Ohio Property
If you manage a property in Southeast Ohio, you’re no stranger to cracks in your asphalt. They’re a fact of life, caused by constant sun, rain, and our punishing freeze-thaw cycles. While it’s tempting to see all cracks as the same and opt for the quickest, cheapest fix, this approach can cost you dearly down the road.
The truth is, not all crack repairs are created equal. Understanding the critical difference between crack sealing and crack filling is the first step in making a smart, long-term investment in your pavement.
The Core Difference: It’s All About the Goal
Crack Filling is Cosmetic. It aims to improve the look of the pavement and block debris. It’s a short-term, low-cost solution for non-working cracks (cracks that don’t move significantly with temperature changes).
Crack Sealing is Structural. It’s a long-term, waterproofing solution designed to prevent water from entering the pavement base. It’s the only method recommended for “working” cracks (cracks that expand and contract with the seasons).
Using the wrong method is like putting a bandage on a wound that needs stitches—it might look okay for a little while, but the problem underneath is only getting worse.
Crack Filling: The Quick Fix
What it is: A simple process where a cold-pour rubberized emulsion or sand slurry is poured or brushed into a crack. The material remains somewhat flexible but is not designed for significant movement.
Best for: Small, dormant cracks (less than ¼” wide) with stable edges. It’s a temporary measure to improve appearance.
The Downside: These materials have lower adhesion and elasticity. They can quickly fail when subjected to the expansion and contraction of Southeast Ohio’s seasons, leading to debonding and allowing water right back in.
What it is: A multi-step, professional process that is the industry standard for protecting pavement.
Cleaning & Preparation: The crack is meticulously cleaned with compressed air and/or routing to remove all debris and create a clean, uniform “reservoir.”
Application: A hot-pour rubberized sealant is heated to a precise temperature and poured into the crack. This material is specifically engineered to remain extremely flexible.
Best for: The vast majority of cracks, especially those over ¼” wide and all “working” cracks. It’s the only method that can actively expand and contract with the pavement.
The Benefit: Creates a total, watertight bond that prevents water from undermining your asphalt’s base structure. This is what truly prevents potholes and base failures.
Our climate is the #1 enemy of asphalt. Here’s the destructive cycle we see every winter:
Water seeps into an unsealed or poorly filled crack.
Temperatures drop, and the water freezes and expands, widening the crack and pushing the pavement apart.
The ice thaws, leaving a larger void underneath.
The process repeats, and the weight of traffic eventually collapses the weakened base, forming a pothole.
Crack sealing is the only method that reliably breaks this cycle. It’s not an expense; it’s your most cost-effective insurance policy against catastrophic pavement failure.
How to Spot the Difference After the Fact
You can often tell which method a previous contractor used:
A Failed Fill will look like a messy, raised bump that has detached from the crack walls or has been completely picked out by traffic.
A Proper Seal will sit slightly below the surface, forming a smooth, flexible, and seamless bond with the asphalt that lasts for years.
Don't let a small crack turn into a budget-busting repair.
Protect your pavement the right way from the start.