With proper maintenance and assistance from our Southeastern MI asphalt contractors, your asphalt pavement can last for up to 20 years. However, all asphalt pavement goes through 3 distinct stages of aging:
- Wear: Every time cars park or drive on your pavement, they subject the surface to wear.
- Distress: Signs of asphalt distress include cracks and potholes.
- Failure: Asphalt fails when it deteriorates to the point that it is no longer stable.
You’ll need to repair potholes and other types of damage so your pavement doesn’t prematurely fail and need replacement. Our experienced asphalt contractors can help you with asphalt maintenance so you can enjoy your parking lot as long as possible.
In general, be on the lookout for these to prevent asphalt failure:
- Flushing
- Ruts and washboards
- Wrinkles and tears
- Pumping
- Alligator cracks
Here’s what you need to know about these .
1. Flushing
Asphalt contractors call shiny or smooth patches on your pavement “flushing.” If an inexperienced contractor adds too much asphalt cement to the mix during installation, flushing can occur. It’s not uncommon for flushing to appear on pavement that also has washboards.
2. Ruts and Washboards
The two types of asphalt wave patterns are called ruts and washboards.
Ruts are waves that show up in wheel paths that follow traffic. Asphalt rutting occurs when the foundation wasn’t engineered to withstand its current weight of traffic.
Washboards are waves in asphalt that are concentrated where vehicles make frequent stops (e.g., intersections). Inferior asphalt blends cause washboards. For example, if there’s too much asphalt cement in the mix, or if the wrong blend is used for your climate, washboards can occur.
3. Wrinkles and Tears
For the best results, the surface of your asphalt pavement needs to bond properly with its foundation. Otherwise, wrinkles or tears may appear within the first year after asphalt installation.
Before hiring an asphalt contractor, make sure to research the quality of the work they’ve done on similar projects. That way, you can avoid the kinds of errors that cause wrinkles and tears in the first place.
4. Pumping
Water can seep into the foundation of your commercial asphalt surface. You may notice mud or water being forced to the surface of your pavement when cars drive over it. This phenomenon is called “pumping.”
The key to preventing pumping is to prevent water from penetrating the foundation in the first place. If water gets into the foundation, it can cause lasting structural damage. You’ll want to repair any potholes, cracks, or other signs of distress in your asphalt as soon as possible to avoid issues like pumping.
5. Alligator Cracks
Like the name suggests, resemble the scaly hide of an alligator. Alligator cracking is usually a sign that the asphalt foundation is failing and needs to be replaced. It can also occur when the asphalt layer is too thin.
Asphalt foundations can deteriorate when large cracks and potholes are left unrepaired, allowing water to seep into the foundation and cause permanent damage. If you notice any alligator cracking, whether it’s a widespread problem or contained in a specific patch of asphalt, you’ll need to contact experienced asphalt paving contractors like ours as soon as possible.
The best course of action is to repair any signs of distress on your asphalt pavement sooner than later. That way, you can avoid problems like alligator cracks and simply repair your pavement instead of completely replacing it.
How Does an Asphalt Contractor Repair Pavement Damage?
If you recognize any signs of distress in your pavement, you’ll need to consult the expertise of an asphalt contractor.
Depending on the extent of the damage, our contractors may be able to do a “cut and patch” repair. With this method, we will simply remove that pavement and replace it with an asphalt patch.
Our contractors may instead recommend an asphalt overlay. Like the name suggests, an asphalt overlay is simply a new layer of asphalt installed over existing pavement. However, your pavement’s foundation must be in good condition to be a good candidate for an overlay. Any potholes or cracks will also need to be repaired prior to installation.
Repair Asphalt Distress to Avoid Asphalt Failure
Our asphalt contractors in Southeastern MI are dedicated to helping maintain the appearance and function of our clients’ asphalt surfaces for many years to come. Whether you need commercial asphalt paving, parking lot paving, or driveway paving, we can get the job done right. Call Allied Construction today at (248) 625-9581 or contact us online.
This blog post has been updated.