5 Signs It’s Time to Look Into Asphalt Repair

Don’t let damaged pavement get in the way of getting more from your home or business. Here are the signs it’s time to look into asphalt repair. When you think of common everyday hazards, it can be easy to overlook the pavement outside your front door. Damaged asphalt isn’t just an eyesore, it can cause all sorts of other problems too!

Why is resurfacing asphalt so important?

Having smooth, well-kept asphalt outside your home, on your driveway or surrounding your place of business is about much more than just keeping up appearances.

Damaged or aged surfacing can cause serious accidents to pedestrians and motorists, with thousands falling victim each year.

If you’re a business owner, correct maintenance of your outdoor surfaces is vital if you’re going to avoid on-site accidents that you may be liable for. What started as a simple, cracked pavement could end up costing you thousands.

Poor road surfaces cost the average American $515 in car maintenance costs due to the damage they cause to tires and suspension, not to mention a distinct decrease in mileage.

Here’s how to tell whether your asphalt needs repairing. Some of the signs are more subtle than you’d think!

1. Surface cracks

Let’s start with the most obvious sign; cracks in the surface of your pavement or parking lot.

Any time surface cracks start to appear, you should think about getting your asphalt replaced. Even if the cracks are just fine lines, they’ll deepen and become wider as time goes by.

What could be a fast and affordable job will become a more expensive, extensive job if left unattended.

Cracks can easily be repaired by first cleaning out the crevice then by applying hot asphalt into the void to fill it in. It’s as easy as that!

2. Old age

If your asphalt approaching its 20th birthday? If so, you might want to look at getting it replaced.

The average lifespan of good quality asphalt is around the 20-year mark, so avoid problems before they start and look at a replacement now.

Once you’ve replaced your asphalt, there are special coatings you can invest in which will help increase the lifespan of your surface, protecting it from the weather and UV rays.

3. Warping, potholes, and buckling

If you have a lot of heavy vehicles using your roads or parking lot, you might find that your surfaces are suffering from this symptom.

Potholes and warping in the surface of your pavement can also be caused by an unstable foundation beneath the asphalt itself.

Surface imperfections like these are bad news for tires and car suspension and can cause an accident for pedestrians, too.

4. Crumbling at the edges

Have you noticed that your road surface is crumbling or falling away at the edges or around grass verges or drain outlets? This is a sure sign it needs replacing.

This damage is commonly caused by failing to finish the edges of your road surface off properly or failure to fix initial breaks to the surface edges.

Over time you’ll find that more and more of your pavement breaks away, making for one unsafe, untidy pavement or parking lot.

5. Poor drainage

Poor drainage occurs when water seeps into cracks in the surface of your pavement and pool beneath it, preventing any excess water from draining away.

This can also cause pools of standing water to collect on your asphalt surface, which can cause even more damage if left untreated.

If you’ve noticed any of these signs of disrepair on your road, driveway or business premises, it’s advised that you get in touch with a contractor as soon as possible.

Leaving damage or disrepair can turn a quick, inexpensive fix into an expensive road replacement if you leave it, so act now!