Asphalt is a durable surface widely used for driveways, roads, and pavements. Regardless of its strength, it has a life span and begins to wear out due to heavy movement and traffic from vehicles, heavy trucks, people and exposure to serious weather conditions. 

Maintenance of asphalt surfaces is the best move to prolong its serving life. Therefore, if in charge, you need to pay close attention to the simple issues and have them addressed before they escalate to cause major problems. 

Please look at some common asphalt surface problems and how to address them on time to restore their normal function. 

Potholes 

Potholes are common asphalt issues that appear in the form of small bowl-shaped sink depressions on the pavement surfaces. If not repaired on time, they can easily penetrate and affect the asphalt layer from the base. The worst part of dealing with potholes is that their edges are pretty sharp and can cause punctures to your vehicle when driving along.

To fix this problem, you'll need to have your patching material and have it filled without removing debris or water. When done, compact it well using heavy tyres until a uniform level on the surface of the pavement is achieved. 

Loose Ravels 

If you notice any loose ravels as you walk through the asphalt surface, it is an indication that individual particles are beginning to fall apart. Basically, as the surface ages, the inner sections become exposed due to reduced thickness. This, in turn, allows water to get in and even worsens the situation gradually. 

To address this issue, the process of ravelling is done. First, you have to do away with all the loose particles on the asphalt surface. When done, assess the loose area to determine if it needs simple asphalt patching. If the area affected is too large, it is time to consider a complete asphalt pavement renovation. In essence, the complete process involves the removal of the entire surface and replacing it with a new asphalt with the help of a qualified professional. 

Cracks 

Over time, you begin to notice alligator cracks on the surface of your asphalt pavement. Basically, they indicate several issues with the pavement, including overload, limited pavement thickness or weak base grade. 

With cracks, you can either choose to do a temporary or permanent fixture. The temporary option only prevents water seepage and debris from accessing the cracks to make them wider. On the other hand, a permanent solution must access the asphalt base to determine the source problem and have it fixed. 

For more information on asphalt repairs, contact a professional near you.

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