Although paving materials are sturdy and designed to withstand the elements, they need occasional maintenance. Small cracks can lead to potholes and other, more extensive problems over time. Thankfully, these can be resolved with asphalt repair. The guide below explains the common kinds of damage you might encounter, what causes them, and what you can do to prevent or address them. 

3 Types of Pavement Damage 

1. Alligator Cracks

This problem appears as parallel hairline cracks that start to interconnect until they resemble the skin of an alligator. These cracks are usually attributable to a weak or thinned base. Erosion of the subgrade often occurs due to water damage. Have your paving seal coated and ask your contractor how often you should have it touched up. Driving or parking vehicles with heavy loads on an already weak substrate can exacerbate this type of damage, so if you notice these fractures appearing, try to keep delivery trucks or other weighty automobiles off the area until a professional can assess its condition. They may need to remove the affected area, replace the base with an improved asphalt mix, and create new pavement. 

2. Potholes

Potholes are bowl-shaped depressions in the pavement. They begin to appear when rain or snow seeps into the soil through a crack. If this liquid freezes, it will expand and push the pavement upwards. When the temperature increases, the ground goes back to its original place, but the raised asphalt doesn’t. Over time, a gap between the surface and ground below it will appear. Potholes can be prevented by making sure that water doesn’t seep into any cracks. Contact a contractor to apply asphalt sealer or patch the potholes as soon as they start to form. While minor patching can be performed on your own, if the damage is extensive, a more permanent fix will require a full-depth filling that involves completely removing the pavement down to its sublayer and restoring it with hot mix asphalt.

3. Transverse Cracking

Transverse cracks appear perpendicular to the road because of a shift in the base material. They also happen when the asphalt grade can’t handle the extreme change in temperature. Often, cold temperatures cause the asphalt to constrict and shrink, thus causing fissures. Avoid this type of damage by building the pavement with a soft grade of asphalt. Remedy minor splits – those that are a half inch wide or narrower – by applying asphalt sealer. Call a professional for asphalt repair when wider or numerous cracks appear. 

Restore and protect your pavement with the right materials from Rochester Jet-Black Sealers. This experienced supplier has everything you need for concrete and asphalt repair or installation, from coal tar to sealer. Visit one of their three convenient locations in New York’s Greater Rochester, Syracuse, and Utica areas, or call (585) 436-5050 for service. Check out their website to view a gallery of their work.