Whether you own a home with a driveway or a business with a parking lot, you should know more about potholes and how to prevent them. Apart from presenting you with aesthetic issues, potholes may also compromise the safety of your paved surfaces. GMG General is here with your complete guide to potholes, what causes them, and how to stop them from forming on your property. Continue reading for more information from your local concrete service company.

What You Need to Know About Potholes

1. What They Are

Potholes are large indentations in paved surfaces and may range anywhere from a few inches to several feet in diameter. They’re called “potholes” because, back in 16^th-century England, potters would dig into the roadways in search of clay. However, in today’s world, vehicular traffic is the most common cause of potholes, though the name remains the same.

2. How They Form

Potholes usually occur over the course of time, as traffic slowly erodes and wears down concrete surfaces. They may also form as a result of sudden trauma, such as cargo spills or the passing of a vehicle that is too heavy for the concrete to support. Freeze-thaw conditions during the winter, too, may cause concrete surfaces to crack, split, and form deep potholes.

3. How to Prevent Them

If you’re concerned about potholes developing in your parking lots, driveways, or other surfaces, hire your local paving company to apply a sealant to the concrete. Professional-grade sealcoating will increase the flexibility of your paved surfaces and delay the onset of damages. Sealing will improve the appearance of your concrete while making it safer for vehicles and pedestrians to traverse. 

From road construction to patching and repairs, allow GMG General to keep your driveways, parking lots, and thoroughfares in excellent shape. Give this paving company a call at (907) 349-7854 today to speak with a helpful representative about scheduling concrete services. Visit them online, too, to learn more about snow removal and commercial landscaping.