Breaking Free from Costly Seal Coats: A Chandler HOA Success Story
After years of relying on standard seal coats that only lasted two to three years, Bob O’Hara and his fellow board members searched for a more cost-effective, long-term solution for their 20-year-old community roads.
The Problem
In Chandler, Arizona, the Vasaro community faced a common challenge: maintaining its aging roads without draining its reserves. The stakes were high. With new asphalt installation costs running into hundreds of thousands of dollars, the board needed to find a way to protect its existing roads while building its reserves. “We want to keep the roadways drivable and useful as long as possible because it’s one of the largest expenses that our homeowners association will bear,” O’Hara notes.
The Solution
Thankfully, the HOA found a solution that improved the community’s streets and saved significant money in the long run. Here’s how Vasaro found a Chandler, Arizona pavement preservation solution that cut its road maintenance costs while extending the life of its streets.
The Hidden Costs of Legacy Treatments
Located in a quiet corner of Chandler, Vasaro has 116 homes with owners who take pride in their well-maintained community. But the infrastructure needed attention.
“We’re just over 20 years old, and the common area infrastructure is beginning to age and wear out. Staying on top of that is our biggest challenge right now,” explains Bob O’Hara, the Vasaro HOA board president.
Like many communities, Vasaro previously used seal coats to maintain their roads. These treatments needed to be reapplied every two to three years, creating an endless cycle of expense and disruption for residents.
“We’ve done seal coats on the roadways here in Vasaro twice since I’ve been here, which would last two to three years,” O’Hara recalls, highlighting the frequent maintenance schedule the community faced.
Each application meant not only mounting costs but also repeated inconvenience for homeowners. As the board looked at its maintenance history, it realized these frequent treatments added up to significant expenses without providing lasting protection for the pavement investment.
The Search for Long-Term Value
When it came time to apply another surface treatment, the board received a proposal that caught its attention.
“The HA5 was new to us as a board and to our community manager,” O’Hara explains. This wasn’t just another maintenance option; it was HA5 High Density Mineral Bond, a treatment that promised longer-lasting results.
The board did its homework, researching Chandler pavement preservation options and carefully comparing materials, costs, and expected lifespans. What it found was compelling: while HA5 might cost more upfront, its extended lifespan made it more economical in the long run.
“The lifetime of the HA5 was longer by a significant amount than the standard seal coat, and when we look at having to recoat the roads two or three times over the next 10 years with a standard seal coat, that became more expensive than the amount we would have to spend for the HA5 material,” O’Hara shares.
HA5 can also extend overall pavement life by up to 600% through its ability to maintain the asphalt’s flexibility and reduce cracking.
Immediate Benefits & Long-Term Savings
When the HA5 application was complete, the transformation was striking.
“Based on what I’ve seen of the HA5 on our roadway so far, I would highly recommend its use. It’s almost like having new asphalt there. It is beautiful,” O’Hara says.
The fresh, uniform appearance has enhanced the community’s overall curb appeal, and residents have noticed the surface shows minimal wear compared to how previous seal coat treatments looked at this stage.
The benefits extend far beyond aesthetics. Instead of dealing with road work every two to three years, residents now enjoy longer periods without maintenance disruptions.
“Maintaining the asphalt we have today will allow us to accrue the funds we need over a longer period and make the lives of our neighbors that much simpler, as that repaving effort will be pushed out as well,” notes O’Hara.
The financial advantages became clear when looking at the bigger picture.
“The board decided that yes, we could save a dollar or two today, but in the long run, we’d be spending a whole lot more for standard seal coat much more often than we would need to spend when coating with HA5,” O’Hara explains.
This longer-lasting solution allows Vasaro to extend the life of their road, keeping it in excellent condition for longer while simultaneously buying them time to build their reserves for an eventual asphalt replacement.
Protect Your Pavement Investment with HA5
When HOA boards look only at initial bids for pavement preservation in Chandler, AZ, they might miss the bigger picture. Vasaro’s experience shows how considering the full life-cycle costs of asphalt maintenance in Chandler can lead to significant savings. By investing in a longer-lasting solution, Vasaro has postponed the need for expensive repaving while keeping its roads in excellent condition.
“I can’t say I would recommend using anything less than HA5 in the future,” O’Hara states. The results speak for themselves: better-looking roads, less frequent maintenance, and a more manageable long-term budget. Instead of facing repeated seal coat applications every few years, Vasaro can now focus on other community improvements.
If you’re an HOA board member or community manager looking to break free from the constant cycle of road maintenance, reach out to learn how HA5 can help your community protect its infrastructure investment while saving money in the long run.
Related Case Studies
The harsh Arizona sun poses a challenge to one of the most expensive assets of an HOA: asphalt. However, the residents of Arizona are aware of the need to take action to prolong the lifespan of their asphalt assets. But the question that often arises is, “Which pavement preservation method should I choose?”
Greg Mohl, Vice President of Sunbelt Holdings, has led the charge in ensuring the community’s infrastructure is maintained with an eye toward future value and cost-effectiveness.
Asphalt maintenance consumed roughly 80% of Anthem Highland’s budget, largely due to the higher costs associated with frequent slurry applications. By implementing HA5, the community was able to significantly extend the life of its asphalt by enhancing its durability and resistance to wear.