How To Tell if Your Asphalt Needs Repairs

May 04, 2022

How To Tell if Your Asphalt Needs Repairs

Asphalt is the main material that covers many paved surfaces. It's highly dependable for parking lots and driveways, and it's quite resistant to adverse elements like frost, rain, and heat.

As with any infrastructure, asphalt lots and driveways do require regular maintenance to ensure functionality and an attractive appearance. Knowing when to repair a driveway or parking lot isn't always super obvious, though. For your convenience, here’s how to tell if your asphalt needs repairs.

Obvious Cracking

Asphalt cracks over time. Little fractures are completely normal. But as they expand and become more obvious, issues can arise. Ice can infiltrate these openings and push asphalt out, causing bumps and holes.

As cracks become even larger, the required repairs become more significant. If you notice sizable fractures in asphalt, consider preemptively repairing these areas before issues become worse. This can be as simple as adding a new coat layer of sealer sealcoating or repairing repaving particular spots.

Drainage Problems

Standing water isn’t something you want on a driveway or parking lot. It's a hazard that could cause accidents and slips, leading to unfortunate injuries. It also weakens asphalt as it seeps into cracks and fractures.

Furthermore, standing water is quite unappealing to look at, which massively lowers a property's value. If you find access to large puddles across the surface of a parking lot or driveway, consider leveling up the asphalt or replacing the base altogether.

Warping

You might see excessive standing water on a driveway or parking lot because your asphalt is warping or buckling. Typically, significant warping appears in a "wavy" pattern. It's not just visually unappealing; it can cause vehicle damage and may lead to accidents.

Overall, warping limits the functionality of a driveway or parking lot. As with repairing standing water, you can level the warped areas or replace the base entirely.

As you can see, asphalt in a suboptimal condition lowers property value and may lead to accidents. Neglected asphalt is also an overall eyesore. Understanding how to tell if your asphalt needs repairs is essential for preventing prolonged, expensive issues. We at NAC Supply carry all the blacktop repair products you need to maintain a healthy and happy driveway or parking lot.




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