Maintaining your HOA streets is important for the overall look and feel of the community. It also helps maintain property values and can prevent accidents or injuries due to potholes or cracked pavement. But what do you do if your HOA has a small budget for street maintenance? First, prioritize repairs by identifying which areas need immediate attention, such as pothole repair or cracksealing. These repairs can often be done quickly and affordably. Let’s take a deeper look at how to maintain your HOA streets even if you have a small budget.
1. Cracksealing –
Also called crack filling – involves filling cracks in the pavement with a sealant or a sturdier material like asphalt mastic, when necessary. Asphalt mastic is a material used to fill cracks and voids in asphalt pavement. It is a malleable, rubber-like material that is used to seal cracks, gaps and other pavement damage. Cracksealing helps prevent minor issues like cracks and gaps from becoming major issues over time.
2. Pothole repair –
Pothole repair involves filling in holes or depressions in pavement with an asphalt mix material or asphalt mastic. This is done by first cleaning out any debris in the pothole and then filling it in with the asphalt material then compressing it down to ensure a smooth surface. Potholes can be filled with a cold asphalt mix or hot asphalt mix, depending on the size and severity of the pothole. Pothole repair is important for safety reasons, for maintaining the overall appearance of your HOA streets and maintaining property values.
3. Budget for sealcoating in the spring –
Sealcoating should be part of your budget for long-term pavement preservation. Sealcoating not only improves the appearance of pavement, but it also protects against weather damage and wear-and-tear. Sealcoating prolongs the lifespan of your streets, allowing you to go longer between repaving projects, thus saving your HOA money over the long term. Sealcoating should be done every 2-3 years to have the maximum benefit of pavement protection.
Overall, it might take some creativity and effort, but with careful planning, your HOA can maintain its streets even with a small budget. Remember, properly maintained streets not only improve the appearance of your community but can also prevent accidents and maintain or even increase property values. It’s worth the effort to keep your HOA streets in good condition with timely repairs and budgeting for regular sealcoating.