Driveways are built to last, but there are instances when they need to be repaved earlier than expected. If repairs and patch-ups no longer suffice, driveway paving is the most efficient way to fix the crack-riddled, weather-beaten surface. Here’s how to know it’s time for an upgrade.  

When Do You Need to Repave Your Driveway?

1. Cracks

Asphalt and concrete driveways develop fissures on their surfaces over time due to pressure and natural elements. Repairing smaller shallow ones is possible, but alligator cracks that are long, wide, or deep indicate a more serious problem with the foundation. Filling in the gaps serves as a temporary fix, but it doesn't address the issue underneath. Rather than wait for it to worsen, call a driveway paving contractor to replace the entire surface.  

2. Potholes or Sunken Areas

Compared to cracks, potholes are more problematic for your vehicle and its wheel alignment; a bad run can knock out your alignment, for example. Most potholes form when the ground underneath the asphalt driveway repeatedly contracts and expands, eventually weakening the surface. Sometimes, the damage appears as an indentation or sunken spot traced to a heavy load sitting on the pavement for too long. Instead of patching up the divots, have the driveway replaced so you can check for underlying foundation issues as well.     

3. Drainage Problems

On a good, well-constructed driveway, standing water doesn’t pose much of a problem. It only becomes troublesome if it happens more frequently, and the surface where water gravitates and collects begins to deteriorate. Improper drainage resulting from uneven or sloped driveways causes water to pool in potholes, cracks, and sunken areas. It’s only a matter of time before standing water erodes the surface and weakens the foundation. Repaving the driveway is the only solution.

4. Old Age

Asphalt driveways last for 20 years, while concrete surfaces can last about five years longer. If yours is nearing the 20-year mark, it’s time for driveway paving. Around this age, most surfaces have already started showing signs of structural weakness and have a rough appearance; temporary fixes can only do so much in holding up the driveway.

If you think it’s time to repave your driveway, count on the contractors at C.B. Paving in Bulverde, TX. Since 1970, they have provided outstanding excavation, driveway paving, and private road construction services to clients throughout Comal County and south-central Texas. Call (830) 980-2880 to discuss your paving needs, or check out their gallery of finished projects online.