On an almost daily basis, you have probably walked or driven on something that was paved using asphalt because it is one of the most durable, resilient, low-maintenance, and versatile paving materials. It is highly cost-effective and does not require much maintenance like something like concrete does. Roads, parking lots, driveways, and other residential and commercial applications often use asphalt pavement.
Even though asphalt is an excellent choice for the pavement surface, it is not entirely indestructible and does need to be maintained at specific intervals. It frequently requires minor repairs due to everyday wear and tears, and the problems can get exponentially worse over time if they are not taken care of right away.
At Northeastern Paving & Sealcoat, our Rochester, New York team understands the best ways to care for and maintain asphalt paving and prevent pavement defects caused by improper application of the asphalt mix. We use the highest quality materials for all of our jobs and are happy to serve residential and commercial clients who need repair or replacements of their asphalt pavements.
Causes of Asphalt Pavement Surface Problems
Since asphalt pavement is so durable and versatile, you may be thinking that an asphalt layer will never need work. Unfortunately, it is not impervious to damage or cracks. There are a few common pavement defects and causes of damage to the asphalt pavement. These include:
- Inclement weather
- Age-related wear and tear (pavement fatigue)
- Improper maintenance
- High traffic
- Inappropriate site preparation and application
If you are noticing a cracked pavement layer on your driveway, parking lot, or somewhere on the road, contact Northeastern Paving & Sealcoat to discuss the solutions to these pavement issues. Our team will assess the type of damage and provide you with the best solution, depending on the pavement concerns you encounter.
Common Asphalt Pavement Issues like Edge Cracks and Block Cracking and Solutions
There are some common asphalt pavement issues you may see while traveling on the roads throughout Rochester, New York, or even in your parking lot. Some of these problems that our team at Northeastern Paving & Sealcoat can quickly provide solutions for include:
- Alligator cracking: Just as the name would make you assume, alligator cracking is a series of the hairline, interconnected cracks that form a lattice pattern and resemble the skin of an alligator. This damaged pavement surface will worsen over time, so it is essential to repair them before turning into potholes. A simple patch will generally not be effective in improving alligator cracking. It must be removed, compacted, and patched or have a complete overlay.
- Longitudinal cracks are long fractures that run from one end to another near the pavement’s center. These pavement defects are usually fatigue cracking but can also be caused by improper construction. If the cracked pavement layer lines are short, they can patch them. If they are much longer, the pavement will need to be overhauled.
- Raveling: If you have ever seen uneven surfaces in the pavement containing loose debris like gravel and grit, you have witnessed raveling. Insufficient pavement thickness becomes a problem over time, and the loose gravel gets deeper into the asphalt. This essentially creates the raveling problem. Asphalt patching can be done for small areas, but general asphalt failure will need the services of professional asphalt installers such as ours at Northeastern Paving & Sealcoat.
- Block cracking: As the name would suggest, large patterns in the asphalt which resemble squares or rectangles are known as block cracks. They are usually formed because of a weak binding agent in the asphalt mixture. Over time and with temperature changes, the asphalt pavement will no longer contract and extract, leading to cracking. Crack sealing can be done for smaller block cracks, but larger ones will need to be repaired by professionals.
- Potholes: Cracks in the pavement that are not taken care of will eventually spread, leading to a pothole. Over time, the weather and traffic worsen the crack, cause tunneling internally, and create a much larger defect in the asphalt. Your asphalt contractor may be able to use infrared asphalt patching or removal and repaving procedures to fix potholes.
- Edge cracking: A weak foundation or improper support at the outer edging of the road or paved area usually results in pavement edge cracks. They begin at the corners and work their way toward the center. Small cracks can be filled with a patch, but the support issue must also be addressed.
- Transverse cracks: These cracks develop going across the center line (perpendicularly) and usually follow the direction in which the aggregate particles were laid. You can use the same process as longitudinal cracks to repair these cracks.
- Joint reflection cracks: Reflective cracks develop because of drastic temperature changes. The changes caused the slabs to shift in the underlying layer, which resulted in cracks reflecting that movement at the surface. Again, small cracks can be patched, but the larger ones will need to be overhauled. Be sure to contact an asphalt professional for crack sealing and overhauling.
- Slippage cracks: When a surface repair using an asphalt binder is done on top of a current asphalt layer without guaranteeing that the two mixtures will bond properly, you may end up with a crescent-shaped slippage crack.
Suppose you notice an issue with severe cracks in your asphalt pavement. In that case, you may need the professional asphalt services offered by our experts at Northeastern Paving & Sealcoat in Rochester, New York.
Contact Our Rochester, NY, Asphalt Paving Contractor
When you need fast, affordable, and professional asphalt paving services for your residential or commercial property, contact Northeastern Paving & Sealcoat. Our experienced, courteous team is committed to providing outstanding customer service to all clients in Rochester, NY. We have been paving and sealcoating in this region since 2003, and our experience truly speaks for itself. Contact us at 585-544-4372 to find out more about our asphalt repair services.
