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non-slip, beautiful concrete finishes for pool decks

The surface around my in-ground swimming pool was always slippery when it was wet. I decided last year after watching my three year old son slip and fall for the last time that I was going to have a contractor come out and resurface the area around the pool. I have spent the last several months looking into the different concrete finishing techniques that will not only provide a safe, non-slip surface, but that would also look really nice around the pool. To find out what options you have to create a non-slip beautiful surface around your pool, visit my site.

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non-slip, beautiful concrete finishes for pool decks

Four Tips For Repairing Cracks In Asphalt

by Bessie Armstrong

Asphalt is an excellent material to use for a driveway, due to its ability to withstand heavy objects, high heat, and various other elements. Unfortunately, it is not impenetrable, and is prone to cracks over time. Here are some tips for repairing the cracks in your asphalt driveway.

Remove Debris From the Cracks

The first thing you need to do is prepare the asphalt driveway by cleaning it thoroughly. You can start by sweeping the driveway, particularly around the areas where there are cracks. In the cracks themselves, you will probably find some debris, such as rocks, twigs, or weeds. These all need to be removed before you repair them, since the filler is going to go inside the cracks. If you are having difficulty removing it on your own or with tools, you can try pushing the debris out with a can of compressed air.

Create Smooth Lines

The next thing to do is work on the cracks a little bit. You don't want to create a larger crack to repair, but you also don't want uneven, jagged edges, as it will be more difficult to repair. If the cracks are not smooth, get a chisel tool to just smooth the lines a little bit. Be very gentle when doing this so you don't make the crack worse. Don't attempt this if you are concerned that the crack is prone to more damage. Once you have smoothed it out, take a pressure washer to continue cleaning the area around and inside the crack. It should help remove any remaining dust or debris from inside the crack.

Prepare the Asphalt Patching Compound

There are two types of filling compounds to be used for repairing asphalt cracks, including one that has already been mixed and one that needs mixing. If you got one that is already mixed, it comes in a tube that is ready to use right away. This one doesn't have any required preparations. However, if you got the other kind, you will need to follow the directions on the package to mix it. Many of them are as simple as shaking the bottle to mix the contents together. Just make sure you do this vigorously so it is completely mixed. If the top of the tube needs to be cut for application, make slightly smaller in width than the size of the crack.

Fill the Cracks

With the asphalt filler compound mixed together, it is time to fill the cracks. Take your time and work with one crack at a time. Press the tube or bottle gently and allow the filler to enter the crack until it becomes flush with the pavement. When it reaches the top, use a squeegee to smooth it out. If after smoothing it out, it is not completely flush with the pavement, add a little more and smooth it out again. You can use toothpicks to poke inside the filler and get rid of bubbles that might form. Give the filler plenty of time to dry, which is usually at least a full day or so.

For more help or information on paving, contact a company like Bill Mariotti Site Development Co Inc or another local business..

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