A universal truth among pavement contractors is that asphalt cracks, but severe cracking should not be present if your pavement is relatively young and well-maintained. When extensive asphalt cracks do occur, some of the most common causes of asphalt cracks include the following:
- Water intrusion and damage
- Wear, tear and weather
- Poor construction or curing methods
- An unstable base
- Overloading
- Overgrown vegetation
- Inconsistent maintenance
In many instances, it is a combination of the above factors that result in significant cracking – whether it is a parking lot, a street or another piece of asphalt pavement. Here, we will take a closer look at each common cause of asphalt cracking and how they can be addressed by a reputable asphalt contractor.
Asphalt Cracks Caused by Water Intrusion and Damage
Water is a major cause of asphalt cracking, especially in a wet climate like Houston’s. If the asphalt is well-maintained and if any damage is promptly addressed, then water can be kept out of the pavement’s deeper layers. If the asphalt’s surface-level flaws are not resolved, water will seep through them and eat away at the asphalt’s subsurface layers. This has a destabilizing effect on the pavement that will lead to extensive cracking and eventually potholes.
The surest way to protect against water intrusion is to install proper drainage and keep those drainage structures clear and clean. Regular asphalt maintenance is also essential as sealcoating and prompt crack repairs will keep the water out.
Most importantly, make sure your asphalt paving is installed by an expert pavement contractor. A reputable team will ensure the pavement’s base is properly stabilized and the asphalt is installed with best practices, which will minimize the likelihood of water backing up on the property and causing issues.
Asphalt Cracking Caused by Wear, Tear and Weather
Eventually, wear, tear and steady exposure to the weather will cause cracks to form in the pavement. Frequent, heavy loading will deteriorate the asphalt’s surface, for example, and UV radiation will cause its binders to deteriorate, resulting in aggregate shedding and cracking.
While age can only be kept at bay for so long, there are steps property owners can take to reduce its impact on the asphalt. If the asphalt is sealcoated regularly and if any minor cracks are filled as soon as they emerge, this will prevent existing cracks from worsening and new cracks from forming.
If asphalt cracking is due to extensive wear, it may be time to schedule a surface treatment for your pavement. For example, an asphalt overlay will replace the pavement’s surface with fresh material that is crack free. Sometimes, this is the only way to permanently address wear-related cracking.
Asphalt Cracks Caused by Poor Constructing and Curing Methods
If the asphalt pavement cracks early in its life, this may be a sign that it was not installed or cured properly following placement. Low quality asphalt mixes will also fail early.
Poor installation methods may mean insufficient soil testing and stabilization methods, poor transitions between pavement structures, inconsistent pavement thickness, poor edge reinforcement or another operational, in-the-field mistake. Once these mistakes are made, the only fix is to rip the pavement out and replace it, so prevent them in the first place by partnering with a reputable asphalt contractor.
Asphalt Cracking Due to an Unstable Base
In Houston, soil quality is a common cause of asphalt cracking – specifically, the presence of heavy clay soils that swell and shrink with every rainstorm. If a pavement contractor fails to test the soil before installing asphalt, they may place your asphalt on unstable ground.
In some cases, the soil can be stabilized using mechanical or chemical methods, like using lime cement to chemically alter the soil and add compressive strength. Compaction can also improve the base’s stability using mechanical means. Ideally, your pavement contractor will have a precise idea of how compact the base should be, so they can use quantitative means to verify the base’s stability.
Asphalt Cracking as a Result of Overloading Stresses
If your pavement includes loading areas or areas where heavier vehicles are stored, your asphalt may be cracking or warping due to persistent overloading. When this is the case, you may see the cracks emerging from a single depression or from fractures. Alligator cracking is a scale-like pattern of interlaced cracks and is common with overloading stresses. In most cases, the failed asphalt will need to be extracted out and replaced with fresh hot mix.
Asphalt Cracks Caused by Overgrown Vegetation
When your asphalt is first installed, your contractor should prepare the site and remove as much vegetation as possible. This may include “grubbing,” which involves tearing out the root structures to prevent them from growing back.
If your land is not sufficiently cleared prior to asphalt placement, this vegetation will take root again around and eventually in your asphalt. This is most common around the asphalt’s edges and can be addressed if it is stopped early. The longer the vegetation goes unchecked, the deeper it will work its way into the pavement.
Asphalt Cracking Resulting from Inconsistent Maintenance
Inconsistent maintenance is a problem for asphalt pavement as it accelerates the pavement’s “true” age. Minor issues eventually become major issues, and inexpensive fixes become much more expensive to handle. Asphalt should provide 15+ years of reliable performance, but lack of maintenance will cause it to fail much earlier.
Your asphalt should be inspected regularly, especially following severe weather events. A round of asphalt sealcoating is recommended every 18 or so months, and when cracks show up, they should be filled as soon as possible. If there are any weaknesses in your asphalt, they should be resolved before nasty weather arrives, whether it is a freeze or a hurricane, for example.
Timely Professional Maintenance Can Avoid Most Common Causes of Asphalt Cracking
Although all asphalt pavement eventually cracks, it should still last for more than a decade without those cracks becoming a fatal problem for the pavement. The only way to ensure that is by partnering with a proven Houston pavement contractor for installation and maintenance. An experienced asphalt crew will identify the common causes of asphalt cracks when they are present and provide an appropriate solution to extend your pavement’s life.
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