5 Things That Damage Your Asphalt and How to Limit Aging
13 October 2019
You’ve invested money in your curb appeal, and it is important to know exactly what can cause damage to the asphalt in your driveway so that you can be proactive and easily protect it so that it keeps working longer for you.
Here are five common dangers to asphalt and what you can do to limit aging and extend the life of your driveway:
1. Oil Drips
Oil residue from spills and drips that is left sitting on pavement will start to breakdown the asphalt and cause early cracking. It is important to clean up spills right away before the oil starts to affect the composition of your asphalt. We’ve laid out these 6 Efficient Ways to Clean an Oil Stain from a Driveway on our blog. Check it out!
2. Tree Roots
Trees and even some shrubs planted near a driveway may have roots that extend under the asphalt. As they shift and grow in search of water and nutrients, these unseen roots could cause bumps and cracking in your pavement. Avoid planting close to your asphalt driveway when possible and if that’s already happened, contact the professionals like Pavage Massie at the earliest sign of trouble so that we can intervene quickly and minimize damage to your asphalt.
3. Sunshine
UV rays have a drying effect on asphalt and, left untreated, can result in your driveway pavement becoming brittle. Be sure to protect your asphalt regularly with sealer to deflect harmful UV rays, prevent early cracking, and extend the life of your driveway. We offer professional driveway sealing and would be happy to provide you with a quote.
4. Heavy Vehicles
Despite its hard appearance, Asphalt actually has a high liquid concentration. And when parking heavy boat trailers, campers, etc. for long periods in your driveway, the surface can dent or warp due to the weight. A simple solution is to deflate the tires of these heavy vehicles to decrease the contact pressure of the load. Similarly, by staggering your parking spot slightly for the vehicles you use on a regular basis, you will be helping to avoid the formation of dents and early breakdown of asphalt from fatigue.
5. Water
Standing water and puddles will find a way to seep into asphalt and eat away at the base layers. This causes the integrity of the asphalt to decrease faster than normal. Even before large cracks show on the surface of your driveway, water damage can have progressed significantly and aged your asphalt unknowingly. To minimize water damage to your asphalt, ensure that your driveway drains properly after heavy rainfalls. By regularly sealing your driveway and filling any cracks that start to develop, you will keep excess water from soaking into the base of your asphalt and damaging your driveway.
We know that you want to protect your investment and be able to enjoy your driveway hassle-free for as long as possible. Maintaining your asphalt driveway is easy with a few steps and will keep your curb appeal (and budget) spot on for years to come!
