Cold weather affects everything in Montana, from indoor plumbing to roadways. In fact, the arrival of winter conditions often mean you will need to schedule driveway, parking lot, or roadway maintenance. Double Diamond Contracting in Kalispell warns that cracks and potholes left unfilled during the winter can lead to major asphalt repairs and expenses. Checking your asphalt surfaces and taking preventative measures can save you the hassle and expense of additional repairs when things begin to thaw.

Keep It Clean

Throughout the year, you should keep your asphalt surfaces clean. Street sweepers are an effective way to remove the dust, dirt, and debris that can lead to the erosion of asphalt over time.

Remove All Snow

Snow is unavoidable during Montana winters. Regardless of how deep it gets, it needs to be removed to protect your asphalt. Excess moisture can seep cracks or potholes and expand them. These flaws can worsen even further as a plows and shovels scrape over the surface and break off pieces of asphalt. Your plow or shovel will glide over the top of a well-maintained driveway or road.

Inspect All Asphalt Surfaces

Before temperatures take a nosedive, you should inspect your asphalt driveway, parking lot, or roadway for signs of cracks or potholes developing. If there are too many cracks or imperfections in your asphalt, you may end up with an unstable sub-base. Be sure to note the size and location of each imperfection to determine the most appropriate solution.

Determine How Bad the Potholes Are

Potholes start as weak spots that develop from as the asphalt expands and contracts, and often worsen when pressure is applied to the surface. These holes are known to contribute to hazardous winter driving conditions.

Decide How to Address the Problem

Even the tiniest crack can escalate into a pothole if it’s not filled, so you should decide on a temporary patch or permanent repair. Cold-mix asphalt provides a temporary fix when temperatures are already too cold to implement a more permanent solution, such as hot-mix asphalt.

Double Diamond Contracting specializes in asphalt repairs and resurfacing all year long—and their expertise can help you protect your asphalt surfaces this winter. Call (406) 755-8853 or visit their website to learn more about their services.