Asphalt is considered an extremely versatile and durable choice of paving material. However, it is not fully resistant to the different types of damages which take shape over years. The chances of damage heighten in the case of an industrial or commercial property that receives heavy foot and vehicular traffic. In such cases, often the pavement develops cracks at different spots. For effectively fixing the damages, it is important to primarily identify the reasons triggering the same so that you can prevent it in the future. Today we are going to talk about the main reasons behind asphalt cracking to help you discover a long-lasting and cost-effective solution.
- Inferior Drainage System
If the drainage system on your property is not functioning properly, then you are bound to witness problems like water backflow, backlog, etc. Standing water is one of the biggest nemeses of asphalt pavement. The naturally porous nature of asphalt makes it susceptible to the damages triggered by standing or pooling water. This will eventually permeate the layers of your asphalt pavement and erode it slowly. Once this happens, the durability and structural integrity of your pavement gets compromised and lead to more breaks and depressions over time.
More water will find its way into the cracks and fissures alongside dirt and debris over time. The freeze-thaw cycles can cause further cracking by making the cracks expand and contract. This kind of damage can increase the chances of injuries and accidents to kids playing on the pavement or cars parked there. Monitoring the performance of your water drainage system can help in preventing these unnecessary problems from beforehand.
- Extreme Climatic Changes
People residing in Canada have to sustain drastic temperature changes which might happen throughout the year. Free-thaw cycles are a common characteristic of drastic climate changes and this can cause serious damage to the asphalt pavement. The chances of harm intensify if your pavement is already experiencing water penetration-related problems. Asphalt contracts in frigid cold temperatures and this leads to cracking. Water seeps through the asphalt layers before the freeze cycle and freezes causing the asphalt to widen and crack more. Summer months cause asphalt to expand as the ice melts and find its way deeper inside the cracks.
- Inferior Edging
Edging determines the strength of your asphalt pavement. Incorrectly installed or improperly maintained edging can crumble due to constant wear and tear. Both water and debris will seep into the cracks and erode your pavement from inside once the edging starts cracking. The issue might worsen on being neglected for long and this can add to the repair expense. Often the damages are such that they are completely beyond the capacity of repair and might require complete replacement of your asphalt pavement. You should act out when the cracks are small as just some elbow grease and sealant can help sort out the issue.
- Heavy Vehicular Traffic
Commercial parking lots receive heavy traffic from big vehicles like SUVs, pickup trucks, large dump trucks, vans, tractor units, tank trucks, delivery vehicles, garbage trucks, concrete transport trucks, etc. The weight of these vehicles can cause your asphalt pavement to erode over time leading to cracks.
- Sun Damage
Prolonged exposure to the harmful UV rays of the sun can cause your asphalt pavement blacktop to fade. This can dampen its aesthetic appeal and even cause it to become dry and brittle by removing moisture content. Over time this can lead to cracking especially when you park heavy vehicles in the driveway.
Final Words
For best results, you need to act out quickly on noticing the first signs of cracking. An asphalt crack filler pour pot featuring an anti-drip and anti-leak design can help to fill the cracks at walking speed so that the damages can be tackled before they get out of hand.
