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When asphalt cracks, it’s vulnerable to precipitation and changing temperatures that may worsen the issue and pose a danger to pedestrians and cars that use the pavement. It helps to know the most common cracks and their causes so you can address underlying problems and make repairs before a serious problem develops. Here are four crack formations you may recognize on your property.

4 Ways That Asphalt Surfaces Crack

1. Potholes

A pothole is a cavity that occurs in asphalt when the area underneath wasn’t adequately prepared. When paving a surface, contractors should create a strong substrate foundation featuring crushed rocks or recycled concrete that forms strong locks when the asphalt settles. This underlayer lessens the risk of potholes forming.

Additionally, potholes may occur when the asphalt is too thin. Make sure your surface is between 4 and 8 inches thick to provide the longest life span. As for repair, patches are the most common solution. They fix potholes and return the surface to an even level.

2. Linear 

asphalt Guilford County NCMany driveways and parking lots feature linear or longitudinal cracks that run parallel to the pavement center. Usually, hauling heavy materials or otherwise placing a lot of weight on asphalt doesn’t cause linear cracking.

Instead, it may happen if the pavement contracts due to cold temperatures or if it was incorrectly installed. Most paving companies will treat this issue by resealing the surface to prevent moisture and temperatures from worsening the crack.

3. Alligator 

When asphalt doesn’t have adequate drainage and experiences a lot of standing water, it may incur alligator cracks, which look like reptilian skin. These markings often cover a large area and indicate issues underneath the pavement.

Asphalt contractors repair these problem areas by removing them and checking the base. They may also need to remove the aggregate underneath and replace it with material that will interlock and improve the substrate strength. The contractor may also assess the pavement drainage and create better angling to avoid standing water. One way to achieve this is by funneling water to the side of the surface.

4. Block

Your driveway or parking lot may have block cracks if it features large square cracks that loosely link up with one another because of temperature shrinkage. If the markings are less than half an inch thick, they may benefit from resealing to cover the vulnerable areas and create a smooth surface. Replace anything deeper than half an inch by breaking up and removing the old asphalt and installing a patch.

 

If your driveway or parking lot is cracking, contact AAA Paving Company in Guilford County, NC, to fix the issue. The experienced team has provided commercial, residential, and industrial paving services since 1989. Call the paving company at (336) 723-1418 to schedule an estimate today. Visit the website to learn about their services, such as sealing, patching, parking lot installation, and driveway resurfacing. 

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