1. Crack seal applied to hairline cracks is prone to pull out. With such a small reservoir for the material to get inside the crack the bulk of the material will be outside/on top of the crack, causing the material to not be well anchored, and susceptible to pullout from traffic or snow removal.
2. Crack seal applied to hairline cracks can re-crack. A good sealant can expand 30-40% before failing. Cracks typically grow a consistent amount each year due to factors like pavement shrinkage and temperature fluctuations. For example, if cracks grow 1/16 inch annually, a 1-inch crack will become 1 1/16 inches wide, staying within the sealant's capacity. However, a 1/8 inch crack growing to 3/16 inches represents a 50% increase, exceeding the sealant's stretch limit and leading to failure.
3. Crack sealing hairlines is often a waste of funds since its main purpose is to prevent water damage to asphalt. Experts agree that water in cracks has minimal impact, as severe damage occurs from saturation or erosion of the base materials. Even if water reaches the base through a hairline crack, the amount is so small that it’s insignificant. Additionally, overfilling cracks can lead to issues like pullout, tracking, and tripping hazards.
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