5 Causes of Asphalt Damage and How to Prevent It

Asphalt is affordable, looks great, and useful for many different applications, however, you need to ensure that you are protecting it from the harsh environment or else you will end up with costly repairs in the future. Below are five majors causes of asphalt damage and how to prevent them.

Oxidation

Asphalt oxidation gradually causes asphalt to become brittle, less elastic and more likely to crack. Sealcoating significantly reduces the oxidation rate if installed in the first years after the pavement is placed.

Standing Water

Water settling on the top of roads can wear on the asphalt and cause initial cracks. If water sinks into already formed cracks, it can cause further damage in the base layer. Regular power sweeping can help prevent standing water and protect your asphalt.

Heavy Traffic

Garbage and delivery trucks put a lot of weight on your asphalt. If possible, avoid extreme weight, especially on extremely hot or cold days, and always try to keep excess weight away from the borders of your parking lot where cracking and chipping is more likely to occur.

Chemical Stains

Oil stains from parked cars will eat through and degrade your asphalt. If oil stains are not addressed quickly, it'll become saturated into the asphalt and will become very costly to repair. Clean oil stains with a stiff brush and dish detergent and never try to clean oil stains with citrus-based cleaning agents.

UV Radiation

Asphalt is held together with a binder that acts like a glue. When UV rays break down the binder, the asphalt cement also begins to break down. UV damage can be lessened by resealing your asphalt. At AAA Total Property Solutions, we recommend resealing your asphalt every year or two.

Damage to you asphalt can occur due to a variety of reasons. Contacting your local company offering asphalt paving and repair services is always a good idea to ensure the job is done right without any shortcuts. To learn more about commercial pavement upkeep and repair or for any questions about the services we provide call (912) 275-8117 or visit https://aaatps.com/contact to fill out our contact form and get in touch with one of our specialists.

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.