You can see asphalt paving in most places – parking lots, roads, driveways, and more. It is a durable paving material, however, aging, extreme weather conditions, high traffic, improper installation of asphalt, and lack of proper maintenance can lead to issues in the paving. These issues must be addressed appropriately to enhance the life of the paving and prevent its failure.
Here are five common asphalt paving problems and their possible solutions.
1. Raveling
When stone particles from the asphalt paved surface dislodge resulting in an uneven surface. There will be a lot of loose grit and gravel leading to the accumulation of debris and standing water. In case of extreme raveling, standing water can penetrate the asphalt and seep into its foundation making things worse.
For repairing a raveled asphalt paved surface, remove and clear all the loose bits. If the affected area is small, applying an asphalt patch works. If it has spread to a large area, it is best to remove the damaged part and overlay it with fresh asphalt.
2. Alligator cracking
Alligator cracking is often caused due to deterioration of asphalt over time. The reasons can be a weakened subgrade, eroding pavement thickness, heavy traffic, or a combination of all these.
Alligator cracks must be addressed quickly, or else they will spread all over the pavement in no time. A quick fix for such cracks is to apply crack filler and seal coating on the paved surface to prevent any penetration of water. For a permanent solution, asphalt professionals may require to dig the surface, identify the underlying problems, replace and strengthen the base, and top it up with fresh asphalt surface.
3. Depressions
Depressions in asphalt are low areas of pavement and are usually caused by poor compaction during the paving process. Water and debris can collect in these depressed areas and can weaken their integrity.
To fix depressions in the asphalt surface, a simple asphalt patch can be applied on top of the existing pavement. But it doesn’t solve the problem for long term. For a permanent repair, the affected area should be removed, the sub-grade must be replaced, and a full-depth patch should be applied over the repaired subgrade.
4. Potholes
When faced with extreme weather conditions, huge traffic, and standing water, the paved surface develops small bowl-shaped depressions that reach through the asphalt layer to the subgrade. As moisture infiltrates the affected area, the size of the potholes can increase and lead to the failure of the asphalt.
To fix potholes, a simple method is to clean the area and the fill the patching material into the holes, then compact it using rollers. A professional company providing asphalt repair services can inspect the area and advise if a more elaborate process is needed.
5. Asphalt Upheaval
Asphalt Upheaval is a localized upward movement in your asphalt pavement caused due to swelling of the subgrade from excess moisture.
The best way to address asphalt upheaval is to address its root cause which is the subgrade. Remove the affected part and apply a full-depth asphalt patch.
Premier Paving is a professional asphalt pavement contractor in Annapolis proving high-quality asphalt paving, asphalt repair, and asphalt maintenance services. For any requirements, get in touch with them today.
