As you know, winter in New England is as harsh and cold as it is beautiful. Periods of snow and ice are not just something you deal with; they also affect the state of your driveway or cobblestone patio. For safety’s sake, it’s always a good idea to clear these areas of snow and ice, but extreme temperatures will certainly cause some degree of wear and tear. Serving Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, Beausoleil & Sons has a wealth of experience performing top-notch asphalt repair as well as residential and commercial paving in areas that see these extreme temperatures, and the company’s contractors see firsthand the kind of damage that snowier, icier weather brings.

So what do winters do to pavement and asphalt? Let’s take a look:

• Freezing & Thawing: Because water expands when it freezes, asphalt and paved areas are particularly susceptible to cracking and bubbling as a result of ice formation. While there are some preventative measures that can be taken—most of these have to do with ensuring that pavement is installed with proper structural design—some damage and deterioration is inevitable.
• Deicers: There are several types of deicers, but sodium chloride (rock salt) is the most commonly used. Due to their chemical properties, certain kinds of deicers will react with paving materials and cause scaling and spalling. Asphalt is particularly vulnerable to stripping if used with acetate deicers, which break down bonds between aggregate and asphalt binder. Over the long term, too, magnesium-based deicers react with chemicals in the pavement to weaken its structural integrity.
• Plows & Snow Removal Equipment: Of course, plows and more heavy-duty snow removal vehicles can scrape or heavily impact paved surfaces. Damage from these is an all too common, but largely unavoidable, circumstance.

The good news, though, is that there are preventative measures that can be taken, and all such damage can be effectively managed. This is where Beausoleil & Sons can be particularly helpful. Not only will these paving contractors make any necessary repairs and restorations, they can treat paved areas so that they are more resistant to harsh, extreme weather. Be proactive about your home’s driveway or business’ parking lot. Call the pros at Beausoleil & Sons at (800) 995-4948 or check out their website.to find out more about this industry leader.