For a durable, economical paving solution, many people turn to asphalt for their Utah home or business. After all, it’s an ideal material for large surface areas like parking lots, driveways, and roads. While it is relatively low-maintenance, it does require some simple asphalt maintenance to help prevent cracking and further damage. Below, the experts at our Utah asphalt paving company discuss what causes pavement cracking and what you can do to help prevent cracks in your asphalt.
Why Does Pavement Crack?
While asphalt is one of the most durable paving surfaces in the world, it does have vulnerabilities. Under less than ideal conditions, it can begin to crack and weaken over time, requiring asphalt maintenance. Cracks in asphalt can be caused by several factors:
Temperature changes – One of the most common causes of cracks is extreme temperature changes that occur throughout the year. In Utah, the scorching summer heat causes the asphalt to expand, which can cause it to crack. The fluctuating temperatures and moisture of winter allow water to seep into any cracks. When the water freezes, it expands the cracks, causing them to widen and cause more significant damage.
Traffic – Repeated stress on asphalt from traffic, particularly heavy traffic, can cause the pavement to crack. This is also known as “pavement fatigue.” When expansion and contraction from traffic exceeds the binder’s ability to adapt to physical stresses, the pavement cracks.
Load on the pavement – Large commercial vehicles with heavy loads can put excess pressure on the pavement, causing it to crack in vulnerable areas.
Age – The older the asphalt, the more it is prone to cracking. The materials begin to lose their ability to withstand the daily pressures of traffic and weather, leaving it vulnerable to cracking.
Poor construction and materials – Improper pavement thickness, weakened paver seams, poor drainage, and weakened base are all common issues that can lead to cracks.
Lack of proper maintenance on cracks, such as asphalt crack repair, leads to further deterioration.
5 Tips for How to Prevent Cracks In Pavement
If you just got a surface repaved, you’ll want it to last as long as possible. Here are some tips to help prevent cracks in the asphalt:
- Begin with correct construction – Proper construction is the key to pavement durability. Using the suitable material for the right job stabilizes the pavement structure, ensuring a stable base. The foundation, including the underlying soil, needs to be strong because a lot of damage happens from the bottom-up.
- Proper drainage – Water seeps into any available porous space in and around the pavement, exerting pressure as it expands and contracts, which can cause erosion. Providing the right materials and the proper drainage system for a given environment can minimize water damage.
- Avoid using salt – Salt melts ice and snow, which may improve traction but also accelerates pavement degradation. The melted water has to go somewhere, and that somewhere is into the ground where freeze-thaw cycles put a strain on paving material.
- Manage roots – If large plants grow near the area you plan on paving, consider removing them, paving elsewhere, or having a root barrier system installed. Root barrier systems need to take future tree growth into account to keep the plant stable and healthy while protecting your pavement.
- Treat cracks sooner, not later – Pavement cracks and potholes are kind of like cavities. You can spend a little money to fill the weak spot with strong, protective material. Or, you can leave the damaged spot vulnerable, causing costlier repairs or even replacement later on.
Seeing Cracks? Prevent More Damage with Pavement Crack Sealing
The first line of defense against pavement deterioration is crack sealing, also known as crack filler. Pavement crack sealing is a low-cost asphalt maintenance step that prolongs the life and health of the asphalt. A hot, rubberized polymer is poured into the cracks during the sealing process. Filling the cracks prevents water from seeping into the pavement base which can cause more cracks and holes. Applying a crack sealant is a quick, routine maintenance step that you can do that really makes a big difference in extending the life of your asphalt.
Call Our Utah Asphalt Paving Company for Reliable Asphalt Crack Repair
At Morgan Pavement, we offer a full range of asphalt maintenance and pavement services in Utah at an affordable price. Throughout the years, we have remained dedicated to providing quality and exceptional service with attention to detail that sets us apart from the rest. As the leading asphalt paving company in Utah and the Intermountain West, we provide asphalt paving services for residential, commercial, municipal, and public sector clients. Whether you need asphalt paving or crack sealant, contact us today for free estimates.
