An asphalt driveway can be a beautiful addition to any home. However, it can also be a major eyesore if it experiences issues that you don’t resolve or prevent. Discover three major issues any asphalt driveway can experience so that you can better protect against them.
1. Potholes
If you dread driving over potholes on an asphalt road, how much more annoying are they on your own driveway? Potholes, no matter where they are, can cause flat tires, ruin a car’s exhaust system, scrape or chip a car’s body, or even ruin your alignment or shocks.
Potholes form often after lots of rain and snow. A combination of water freezing, expanding, and melting, along with heavy driveway traffic, can cause a pothole to start and worsen over time. What starts out as a little inconvenience can eventually develop into a major problem without the right precautions or repair methods.
If you see a pothole forming on your asphalt driveway, then now is the time to repair it. A professional can evaluate the pothole and determine the best ways to repair it. Some common repair methods include filling it up and patting it down, injecting a spray into it, or even replacing the driveway itself. Your paving professional will recommend the best repair method based on the location, severity, and number of potholes.
Don’t want to have a pothole in the first place? The best thing to do is to sealcoat your driveway. This provides a protective layer that boosts your chances against harsh weather. You can also maintain your driveway by cleaning it routinely or getting rid of standing water.
2. Cracks
Have you started to notice cracks in your asphalt driveway? You might think they won’t be a big deal, but these minor cosmetic imperfections can become major structural complications later.
Cracks often come from the ground shifting underneath, improper compacting, or a high water table. No matter the cause, they need addressing as soon as you notice them. Sealing these cracks will usually stop them in their tracks.
Can you stop them from happening in the first place? Yes, you can! Again, like with potholes, cracks are entirely preventable with a good sealcoat or cleaning. Also, park your car in different spots on the driveway. That way, your asphalt driveway has less of a chance to soften and sink under the car’s weight.
3. Crumbling
Your once-pristine asphalt driveway now has places of crumbling. How did this happen? Is it repairable? And can you prevent it?
Crumbling asphalt driveways happen because of various reasons. These reasons might be temperature- or weather-related, or they might have to do with the layers or sealing a driveway has or use a driveway gets.
No matter what, a crumbling asphalt driveway is not something you should ignore forever. Instead, you should repair it quickly. A crumbling asphalt driveway might be an extensive job, as professionals need to clean, fill in, and seal your driveway. You might not be able to drive on it right away, and if your driveway is too far gone, you might need to get a replacement.
Can you prevent the crumbling? That depends. New asphalt driveways can crumble quickly if they don’t have a strong subbase, so make sure that you hire a reliable and highly rated paving company to avoid that issue. Besides that, quality maintenance, restricted use, and eventual sealcoating can all prove beneficial and often keep your asphalt driveway strong and unbroken.
If you have any issues with your asphalt driveway, turn to JR Paving & Construction Co., Inc., for help. We focus on everything paving, including driveways, walkways, and roadways. Whether you need a paved driveway or driveway repair, contact us today.
