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5 Most Common Categories of Asphalt Damage

Asphalt is known for being one of the most versatile pavement materials. Most people choose asphalt for its durability, and you might also enjoy how smooth the material looks on large surfaces. While asphalt parking lots and other types of surfaces should last anywhere from 10 to 15 years, they do require some maintenance to reach their maximum life span. Watching out for these common types of asphalt damage helps you know when to arrange for repairs.

Cracking

Cracks can develop due to severe weather conditions, wear and tear from heavy traffic along with poor drainage. There are several different types of cracks that you might notice in the asphalt, and noting which kind you see can help asphalt companies determine the cause of the damage. For example, fatigue cracks involve lots of small ones that run together and create the appearance of an alligator’s skin. These tend to come from chronic excessive loads or poor drainage in a climate with frequent temperature changes. Meanwhile, linear cracks could be caused by general wear and tear.

Depressions

Kids may love how depressions in asphalt surfaces create the perfect puddles, but road maintenance crews know just how dangerous these can be for causing skids. If a depression is relatively shallow and small, then it might only need a surface patch repair. However, some of these can get pretty large, which means you might need to replace the paved area.

Potholes

Coming across a big one of these on a road can lead to popped tires and car accidents. Potholes are ultimately the end result of allowing alligator cracks to go without repairs. Over time, water gets into the cracks and starts to erode the asphalt. Eventually, the cracks begin to intersect and cause chunks to come out of the surface until there is a serious hole.

Rutting

Heavy traffic on asphalt drives can cause indentations to form where the vehicle tires constantly roll across the surface. Since rutting is caused by the surface layers getting compressed by the weight of the vehicles, it tends to be worse when there is already a flaw in the pavement, such as it being too thin or made from a weak asphalt mix. Failing to properly compact the material during the installation process is another reason why rutting might develop, which is why it is important to fully vet asphalt companies before you arrange for their services.

Raveling

Asphalt raveling is caused by the general deterioration of the surface. With raveling, the pieces of the material begin to dislodge, and you might see loose gravel coming up on the surface. On roads and parking lots, the surface can get quite rough, and the loose materials can increase the risk of skids. The good news is that raveling tends to affect just the top surface layer in the early stages, and you might only need to plan for an overlay to fix the problem. Keep in mind that having a loose top layer exposes the underlayers to more potential for damage, so you’ll want to correct the issue as soon as possible.

When caught early, many types of asphalt damage can be repaired before it requires a complete replacement of the surface materials. Whether you have an asphalt driveway, road or trail you’re in charge of maintaining, make routine checks for damage a normal part of your routine. Staying on top of the quality of the surface helps to keep people safe and preserve the appearance of your property.

By admin Asphalt Paving • • • 0 Comments

Do’s and Don’ts to Ensure the Longevity of Your Asphalt Pavement

There’s nothing like a fresh coat of asphalt pavent to make your property or business look inviting and taken care of. You want to keep that look for as long as possible, and that means taking proper care of the material immediately after the asphalt contractors have left. The following is a look at the do’s and don’t’s of maintaining your asphalt to maintain its fresh appearance until it’s time for maintenance or replacement many years from now.

The Do’s of Maintaining Your Asphalt

Asphalt has a lifespan of about 18 years before it needs a total replacement. The clock starts running the moment the asphalt work is completed, but it can take up to a year for asphalt to cure. It’s vital to protect your asphalt after the work has been completed, but you can start using it gently once the initial curing period has been completed.

In order to give your asphalt pavent a good start, be sure to do the following:

  • Block access to cars for the first 24 hours
  • Clean up debris to prevent it from damaging the surface

After the asphalt sets, you can drive and park cars on the driveway or parking spots. Careful use of the paved surface for the next 12 months is recommended, and it’s easy to engage in by making sure cars don’t sit in one place for more than a day or two. As time goes by, you’ll want to take steps to protect your asphalt. They include:

  • Keep it clean with regular washing and sweeping of debris
  • Patch cracks as soon as they appear
  • Seal the driveway on a regular interval, usually every three to five years
  • Make sure water is draining off the driveway and not pooling
  • Remove weeds from the edge of the driveway

The Don’ts’ of Maintaining Your Asphalt

Asphalt is tough, but it’s also malleable and compresses under pressure. It can also get damaged by oil leaks from a vehicle that sits in one place for too long. You definitely want to avoid parking your car in the same spot in the days immediately after the asphalt was laid, but you also shouldn’t park in the same place every time you come home. The same goes for keeping heavy objects on the asphalt for long periods of time, as you’ll wind up with divots forming in the asphalt that aren’t easy to repair.

Other don’t’s include:

Don’t let a car drip oil onto the asphalt

Vehicles are known to leak oil which isn’t always a serious problem in and of itself. It is a serious problem for asphalt as it can cause cracks to form.

Don’t seal coat for at least three years

The oil in the asphalt takes time to dry out and eventually needs refreshing in the form of a seal coat. This is a normal process that should be allowed to play out over time before having asphalt contractorsapply a new coat. The new seal coat should interact with the old coat as little as possible in order to provide the best protection.

Don’t let snow and ice build up on the surface

Asphalt is porous in nature and is easily damaged by frost-freeze cycles. Allowing ice and snow to build up increases the risk of damage to the asphalt from the top down to the bottom layer.

Proper maintenance of your asphalt helps it function for longer, prevents divots from forming, and requires fewer repairs over its lifespan. Use these do’s and don’t’s as part of regular property maintenance for a safe and attractive surface for people and cars to use.