Asphalt isn’t an overnight wear-and-tear process. A driveway, parking lot, or roadway typically undergoes a number of phases before it begins to cause major issues. The key to pavement that wears out in two or three years vs. pavement that lasts for decades is one thing: asphalt maintenance.
Routine maintenance can help to manage moisture, reduce cracking, preserve the surface, and correct any minor problems before they become major issues. Knowing the aging process of asphalt can help property owners decide on effective repairs, resurfacing, and long-term maintenance.
A Guide for the Newly Entrusted Roadway Worker
Asphalt’s life begins well before the first wheels roll over it. The condition of the preparation of the base, drainage, proper materials, and installation will all affect the performance of the pavement.
Asphalt contractors establish a stable base for placement and compaction of the asphalt mix. A solid foundation supports traffic loads and minimizes potential for early settlement.
However, even the best pavement can be subjected to ongoing stresses. Over time, vehicles, temperature shifts, water, and sunlight can impact the surface, as well as seasonal weather. Maintenance can make a big difference in prolonging the service life of properly installed pavement, but it will not improve the pavement’s useful life if initial construction was poor.
Children’s First Years: Protection Matters Most
Asphalt has a period of time that it typically requires to cure and become accustomed to normal service conditions. It is at this early stage that heavy loads and unnecessary stress are controlled to help protect the surface.
Another consideration at the outset is drainage. One of asphalt’s greatest enemies is water. Once it has penetrated into the small voids and is able to seep to the lower layers, it can cause the pavement structure to become weak over time from repeated freeze-thaw cycles or saturation.
It’s why asphalt maintenance shouldn’t start just when cracks and potholes start to form. Preventive care provides an opportunity for the property owner to correct any vulnerabilities while the pavement is still in good condition.
A closer look at mid-life asphalt needs.
As pavement ages, small changes will be more noticeable. Fine cracks, fading, minor surface wear, and spots of water not draining as expected may be seen.
This is the perfect time for asphalt maintenance services. Both crack sealing and surface treatments can help prevent water from getting into areas that are vulnerable, and surface treatments can help protect the asphalt from oxidation and exposure to weather.
Regular inspections are particularly effective because not all cracks are an indication that the pavement needs to be replaced. Damage types, size, location, and damage pattern can give clues on what is going on below the surface.
It’s often more feasible to take action when things are still small than to wait until a multitude of smaller issues mount up to one large repair job.
Cracks shouldn’t be ignored for several reasons.
What might appear to be a minor crack is an opportunity for moisture to enter. When water filters down into the lower layers of the pavement, it can lead to softening, settlement, and increased cracking.
The traffic situation adds to the stress. All passing vehicles are a strain on already vulnerable areas. Cracks can become larger and merge together over time, which can lead to potholes and larger areas of deterioration.
Thus, one of the keys to asphalt maintenance is timely crack repair. It is not a new product for old pavement, but it can help to decelerate the processes that reduce the life of aging pavement.
Asphalt’s defense against water and weather.
The lifespan of asphalt pavement is greatly affected by the weather. Asphalt properties can change with heat and can become more susceptible to cracking in cold weather. The pavement expands and contracts over time due to multiple temperature cycles.
These effects are exacerbated by water. Standing water on the pavement surface can result from poor drainage, and blocked or damaged drainage paths can cause moisture to accumulate around the pavement structure.
Simple yet important maintenance measures include keeping drainage areas clear, repairing surface defects, and monitoring areas where water collects. These steps will minimize moisture damage before it becomes an issue.
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There are limitations to preventive maintenance. Widespread cracking, deep potholes, large depressions, and structural failure may require more than surface treatment of the asphalt.
Resurfacing can, in some cases, be used to give the pavement a new riding surface when the existing pavement is structurally sound. However, if the base failed, then more widespread reconstruction may be required.
The evaluation key is to assess the pavement prior to selection of the treatment. A surface solution to a structural problem can be merely a temporary expedient and an eventual expensive problem.
The Benefits Of Using Chip Seal Technology.
Maintenance is not aimed at slowing the ageing of asphalt. All pavements eventually have to be replaced. The purpose is to create a pavement that will delay deterioration and keep the pavement safe, usable and aesthetically pleasing for as long as reasonably practicable.
Some of the maintenance techniques that could be used in a practical maintenance plan include crack sealing, drainage checks, surface treatments, patching, timely repairs, and routine inspections. The correct mix will vary based on the age of the pavement, amount of traffic, damage to the pavement, drainage, and local weather conditions.
Asphalt Maintenance need not be an emergency expense if it is done regularly.
About Jim’s Paving & Chip Sealing.
Jim’s Paving & Chip Sealing will work with property owners to maintain asphalt surfaces based on the current condition of their pavement. Whether maintenance, paving, or chip sealing, it’s all about responding to pavement issues before they get larger.
Asphalt maintenance should be determined by each surface’s actual state and condition, not by following a blanket approach. If you need to take care of your asphalt now, or you’re thinking about asphalt care in the future, a thorough evaluation can help you decide what the wisest action to take is.
Prepare Your Driveway for the Years to Come
When it comes to asphalt maintenance, it’s not always a matter of waiting for the damage; it’s a matter of catching changes as soon as they occur. By regularly inspecting, draining, fixing cracks, and applying appropriate surface treatments, pavement can be protected from the forces that slowly wear it away.
When it comes to extending the life of asphalt pavements, it begins with regular maintenance. Where possible, property owners can avoid emergency repairs to their pavement assets by implementing preventive maintenance to sustain the asset and delay major rehabilitation. Contact us to get expert asphalt maintenance services within your budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the useful life of asphalt pavement if it is properly maintained?
Although well-installed asphalt can last for many years, its lifespan depends on the quality of installation, traffic, drainage, climate, and maintenance. Major deterioration can be avoided with preventive care.
- What is included in asphalt maintenance?
Depending on pavement condition, potential asphalt maintenance methods include crack sealing, patching, drainage improvements, surface treatments, inspections, and other repairs to slow deterioration.
- What makes water so bad for asphalt?
Water may seep into cracks and soft spots and penetrate layers of pavement. Moisture can help to soften, settle, crack, and pothole over time.
- Does asphalt need to be resurfaced every time it begins to crack?
No, there may be minor cracking that is acceptable if the problem can be appropriately repaired. Resurfacing is more applicable where surface deterioration is extensive, but the underlying structure is appropriate.
- What is the frequency of asphalt inspection?
Once-a-year routine checks are a good first step. Further inspections following heavy rainfall or when cracks, drainage problems, or potholes are first noticed can help to identify problems earlier.