3 Tips to Making Your Infrared Asphalt Repairs Top Notch

As an infrared manufacturer and reseller we strive to not only to produce the industry’s best, most versatile machines but all provide the training and education to help infrared users deliver high-quality, long-lasting repairs with those machines. Like most things in the pavement maintenance industry infrared asphalt repair is not rocket science, however it is a learned craft that takes experience and hands on training to perfect. However, with that being said there are some factors within your control that will undoubtedly help deliver quality repairs.

Material Selection

When performing infrared repairs, the material selection will play a major role in how your end repair looks and holds up over time. When it comes to infrared the finer the hotmix asphalt (HMA) you can get the better. There are dozens of different names for a fine mix HMA, sheet mix, sand mix, top mix, driveway mix, etc. but ultimately what you are looking for is HMA with really fine aggregate. This type of mix will minimize the hand work you have to put in to segregate and lute off the heavier stone and aggregate. It will also allow for better compaction because those fines will fill in any voids on the surface and leave a beautiful uniform looking repairs.
We don’t live under a rock and know that sometimes all the asphalt plants have is a base mix with heavier aggregate so in those scenarios it is imperative that you try to remove as much of that heavier stone off the top of the repair.

Compaction

General rule of thumb in the asphalt industry is compact at the hottest point possible. Anytime you see a large-scale paver paving a roadway or highway the roller is not too far behind. Same concept with IR, as soon as you are done reworking the repair area with your infrared pavement heaters or recyclers it is crucial to get the plate compactor or roller on the repair as soon as possible. This will help you achieve maximum compaction density and should alleviate any raveling or failure points in the future.
If for whatever reason you feel the repair cooled down too much between the time you are done working the area and ready to compact we recommend putting the machine back over the repair for 30-45 seconds to bring the repair area back to around 325F and then run the compactor over it.

In 99% of cases a plate compactor should be sufficient to get optimal compaction density however if you are in a situation where you have 10-15+ heats in a single location it may be smart to look into taking a roller onsite.

Use of Rejuvenator

The use of rejuvenator has always been a point of contention in the infrared space, some manufacturers say you don’t need it and some are strongly in favor, KM falls into the later group. When you are doing an infrared repair normally the assumption is the asphalt is probably at least 10+ years old and because of that has lost a lot of it original properties due to oxidization and traffic. What a rejuvenating agent will do is replace those matlenes and asphaltenes the asphalt surface has lost due to those factors mentioned above. In simpler terms a rejuvenating agent is exactly how it sounds it rejuvenates and brings new life into the asphalt. When a rejuvenating agent is not used normally the repair will look dry, and it will start to prematurely ravel particularly at the edges.

At the end of the day all an infrared machine does is heat the asphalt back top a workable temperature the raking, luting, compaction, and other steps in the process are completely in the hands of the person performing the work. Although keeping the 3 tips mentioned above in your mind will not guarantee a perfect repair they will 100% help alleviate issues and dramatically increase the likelihood of a quality, long lasting repair. If you want to learn more about the infrared repair process you can view our page detailing the step by step guide for a perfect repair.

Choosing the Right Equipment for Reliable Infrared Asphalt Repairs

Investing in high-quality infrared equipment is just as important as perfecting your repair techniques. At KM International, we design our infrared asphalt recyclers and reclaimers with precision and durability in mind, ensuring contractors have the tools needed for efficient, long-lasting repairs. Whether you’re a small paving business or a large municipality, our innovative machines can help you achieve professional results every time.

Ready to improve your infrared asphalt repair process? Check out the full line of KM International infrared equipment, ranging from infrared asphalt recyclers to infrared pavement heaters.

Explore KM International’s Infrared Equipment and learn about how KM International can improve your efficiency and results.

Check out our other articles for more information on Infrared Asphalt Repairs:

The Benefits of Using Infrared Asphalt Repair in Cold Weather
Liquid Fusion: The Asphalt Rejuvenating Agent for the Infrared Repair Process
5 Reasons to Add Infrared Repair to Your Asphalt Business