Asphalt is an extremely strong and durable surface. But even asphalt can be damaged after a certain amount of time combined with wear and tear. Depending on a variety of different factors – including the weight and amount of traffic on the surface, weather conditions, and how well the asphalt is maintained – your paved surface will eventually show some signs of aging. But not all asphalt cracks are created equal! Here are some of the different types of cracking that you may see on your asphalt surface.
- Alligator cracks – Just as the name implies, alligator cracks appear as small, jagged imperfections on the surface of the pavement. It’s most common to see this type of cracking as a result of heavy traffic and/or water damage due to a rainy climate or poor drainage. If you repair this type of damage early on, alligator cracks can usually be easily remedied with crack filler and sealcoating.
- Longitudinal cracks – This type of damage (also referred to as “linear cracks”) usually appear along the center portion of the asphalt surface, and can result from cracks below the surface, shrinking of the surface layer, and/or bad joint construction. As long as longitudinal cracks aren’t too deep (1” or less), you should be able to repair them with cold mix crack filler.
- Block cracks – This more serious type of crack typically appears in squares or rectangular sections of the pavement, usually in areas that are about 1’ across. Block cracks often affect a large area of the pavement and can occur as a result of temperature fluctuations. If you see this type of cracking, you’ll need to ask your paving contractor to repair it, which is typically done with an overlay.
- Potholes – Most of us are all too familiar with potholes. This is the most common type of asphalt damage and usually results from cracks that are not repaired and eventually grow into potholes.
Although a common cause is the freeze-thaw cycle, potholes occur in all types of climate conditions. If your asphalt surface has potholes, you’ll need to hire a paving contractor to have them repaired.
As is almost always the case, when it comes to asphalt damage, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. You can often avoid cracking altogether if you carefully maintain your asphalt surface. That means having minor damage repaired as soon as you notice it, and having sealcoating applied on a regular basis. Contact a local paving contractor for more information.