Things to Look for When Having Asphalt Patched

Drainage

• Watch how your parking lot, road or driveway handles rain and snow. The water should quickly and efficiently move off the asphalt and into proper conduits. Excess moisture under the asphalt, resulting from poor drainage does not allow the asphalt to handle heavy loads and leads to deformation and deterioration of the pavement. Identify any drains under the asphalt that move groundwater away. Repairing asphalt with drainage problems without fixing the problem is a temporary solution and will be costly in future maintenance and replacement.

Cracks and Upheaval

• Cracks are caused by improper sealcoat maintenance, tree roots and excessive water. Cracks, buckling and upheaval all reveal drainage problems. Roads where the subgrades are not stable or of lower quality, will have alligator cracks. These cracks are interconnected and form blocks that resemble an alligator's skin. Upheaval is the displacement of the road or parking lot in one area. The pavement may swell because of ice expansion or low quality subgrade. Improper drainage where moisture expands the soil under the road is another cause of upheaval.

Potholes and Raveling

• Bowl-shaped holes in the pavement are from restricted disintegration from traffic. Poor drainage and improper asphalt application are both factors in the appearance of potholes. Neglect can also cause potholes. Raveling occurs when there are pockmarks in the pavement. The aggregate has been worn off or broken off the asphalt surface. Improper compaction of the roadway during its construction, laying the asphalt in cold, wet weather, dirty gravel and poor mix are all common causes of raveling. Look for rough asphalt where the surface is no longer smooth, but the tops of the rocks are protruding out of the surface. This is a sign of a needed seal or repair.

Grade Depression and Wear

• Grade depressions are areas where the pavement has settled, either from traffic or poor construction. Cracks may also be present. Grade depressions indicate the traffic flow is too heavy or the types of traffic the road or driveway experiences, such as trucks, are too heavy for the road's construction. Your street, parking lot or driveway should not have wear marks where you can see tire impressions and wear lines where cars have either driven or been parked in the same location. Tire tracks may also indicate poor construction.