Asphalt is an excellent material for residential driveways. It’s quick and easy to install, durable, inexpensive, and attractive too. However, even with all of its benefits, the material is not impervious to damage. Knowing which elements can harm your driveway will allow you to provide the proper maintenance. To avoid calling your paving contractor for an early replacement, consult the following guide. 

What Can Damage Your Asphalt Driveway?

1. Heavy Vehicles

For most residential driveways, two-to-three-inch pavement is plenty thick to accommodate vehicle weight. However, if you plan on parking heavier-than-normal cars or trucks on the pavement, discuss it with your paving contractor, so they can adjust as necessary.

Placing too much weight on the asphalt can cause the pavement to subside and become unevenly compacted, which can produce divots in the driveway. This becomes even more of an issue in the summer when the intense heat can soften the material. 

2. Freeze-Thaw Winter Cycle

When the cold season strikes, moisture becomes a serious threat to driveways. It can seep into the smallest fissures and freeze, expanding the cracks. This process repeats; as the frozen water thaws, additional moisture will fill the cracks, and the freezing temperatures will cause further damage. 

Having a paving contractor seal the driveway before winter weather strikes is the best way to prevent the driveway from absorbing water. Otherwise, you can be left with potholes and subgrade problems once spring arrives.

3. Sunlight

The heat and UV light given off by the sun can harm asphalt driveways as well. UV radiation causes oxidization, which reduces the pavement’s flexibility and causes it to be more prone to cracking.

Combined with extreme summer temperatures, asphalt can lose its natural oils, becoming brittle and prone to failure. However, you can minimize sunlight damage by having the structure regularly sealed and repairing small cracks before they can spread.

Whether you need your driveway paved or redone, the paving contractors at C.B. Paving Inc. in Bulverde, TX, will ensure the work is done right. Since 1974, this family-owned asphalt paving company has provided installation services for residential driveways, ranch roads, and subdivisions. Their experienced team provides on-time and on-budget work to Comal, Blanco, Gillespie, and Kendall counties. Call them today at (830) 980-2880 to receive an estimate on your project, and visit their website to learn more about their services.