Asphalt is one of the most durable pavement materials, with an average lifespan of 15 – 25 years. The material may last even longer depending on the quality of installation, maintenance plan, and the type of traffic an asphalt pavement receives.
However, even the most professionally installed and well-maintained asphalt pavement will undergo normal wear on a long enough timeline. Understanding the tell-tale signs that your asphalt driveway or parking lot requires immediate attention is important.
In this post, we examine seven of those symptoms.
1. Warping/Buckling
Like most pavement materials, asphalt expands and contracts in response to temperature fluctuations.
Alternate heating and cooling of the ground shouldn’t be a cause for concern for professionally installed asphalt. However, extreme temperature changes can cause patches of your asphalt pavement to heave and buckle, resulting in significant damage.
Warping of the top asphalt layer can unravel the gravel underneath the pavement, creating loose and uneven stretches along the paved surface. This could pose severe risks to drivers and pedestrians alike.
Your best bet is to contact professional asphalt paving contractors Portland OR. An asphalt paving company will carefully evaluate the warping and recommend the most appropriate remediation.
As a precautionary measure, do not drive over warped asphalt until the damaged sections are fully repaired.
2. Sinkage
Asphalt sinkage occurs when the ground beneath the pavement settles unevenly, causing a hazardous, uneven surface.
Now, asphalt doesn’t sink overnight. The problem develops gradually due to uncontrolled erosion.
Contrary to what you might think, erosion isn’t always a result of floodwater. It could also be caused by the water draining from your property’s downspouts, especially if the pavement is located right next to your house.
If your location has experienced a heavy downpour, but you realize that only your asphalt pavement is sinking, then it’s time to get your downspouts fixed.
An asphalt technician will start by addressing the underlying cause of the problem, which entails moving your downspouts away from the paved surface. They’ll then even out the depressions created by the sinkage.
3. Crumbling Edges
If the edges of your asphalt pavement begin to crumble a few months after installation, it’s likely due to substandard workmanship. That said, other factors could be at play as well.
High traffic, heavy loads, or extreme weather may all cause asphalt surfaces to crumble along the edges. The problem is worse for pavements whose edges aren’t curbed or shielded by concrete gutters.
Crumbling is easy to ignore, as it begins right from the peripheries of asphalt pavement. But it won’t be long before the cracks spread to the central sections of the surface and weaken the entire pavement.
A good practice is to contact an asphalt paving company at the first sign of crumbling. The technicians will repair the damaged sections and install protective curbs around the pavement.
4. Potholes
Potholes may seem like a distant problem that is only encountered when driving along neglected country roads. Unknown to many homeowners, these unsightly roadway depressions can strike much closer to home.
A pothole in your asphalt driveway or parking lot can be a constant source of frustration. You simply cannot pull in or out without your vehicle swaying sideways, which could be disastrous if you carry fragile items. Besides, larger potholes can result in costly damages to your car or life-threatening tripping hazards.
Potholes occur when asphalt loses its resilience due to heavy traffic. Although the depressions start small, they can spread like wildfire due to their ability to hold more water and ice.
The trick is to get potholes patched as soon as possible.
5. Large Cracks
Large cracks on asphalt pavements are primarily attributed to asphalt fatigue. They’re common on pavements that handle heavy loads and can be exacerbated by adverse weather conditions.
Heavy precipitation and dramatic temperature fluctuations are notorious for worsening asphalt cracks.
Get asphalt cracks repaired as soon as your pavement begins to resemble an alligator’s skin or if a crack spreads over a quarter of an inch wide.
If ignored long enough, small cracks can draw water and dirt, causing them to deepen. And if the pavement continuously handles heavy loads, the cracks can widen underneath the surface and present unseen dangers.
Enlisting professional assistance can help establish the depth of asphalt cracking. Although patching might address superficial cracks, a deeper problem may require complete restoration of the affected stretch.
6. Fading or Discoloration
Freshly installed asphalt undoubtedly looks stunning. However, the pavement’s deep black color will lose its brilliance and begin to fade.
Discoloration is expected of pretty much any pavement material. But if you notice that your asphalt driveway or parking lot is suddenly losing its luster, it indicates potential structural damage. That’s especially true if the discoloration occurs in patches or on specific stretches of the pavement.
The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays are the biggest culprit for asphalt discoloration.
But UV doesn’t just cause asphalt pavement to fade. Continued exposure to these harsh rays can compromise the surface’s structural integrity and expose it to cracking. It’s unsurprising that asphalt cracks typically develop from the most discolored sections of the pavement.
A quick fix to faded asphalt pavement would be to apply sealcoating. For a more sustainable solution, your asphalt technician will recommend completely resurfacing the discolored sections.
7. Standing Water
Standing water on your property can attract unwelcome critters, besides being an eyesore. There’s even more to worry about if water pools on your asphalt pavement.
First, establish how long water began to pool on the pavement after asphalt installation. If you notice the problem by the first wet season, that’s a sure sign of shoddy workmanship. For older asphalt pavements, standing water may be due to deep cracks or potholes that have gone for too long without repairs.
Regardless of the cause, water puddles on your asphalt pavement can deepen cracks and damage the pavement’s foundation.
Standing water may also aggravate poor drainage, causing more rainwater to collect on the lower spots of your asphalt driveway or parking lot. This could exacerbate foundational issues, eventually leading to costly repairs.
Wrap Up
Asphalt excels many pavement materials in durability, aesthetics, environmental safety, and installation cost. However, regular maintenance is paramount to ensure asphalt pavement lives up to its lifespan.
Be sure to clean your asphalt pavement at least once monthly, seizing each opportunity to inspect it for evidence of wear.
Cracks, depressions, and drainage issues should be addressed before they degenerate into full-blown problems. Implementing a proactive approach to asphalt maintenance can avert costly repairs.
More importantly, enlist a professional asphalt paving company for all your inspection, repair, and maintenance needs.
