Property owners dread potholes as they can be a significant nuisance. Neglecting potholes can lead to an even bigger problem, especially for those who tend to procrastinate. As time passes, the pothole will grow larger and cause more damage to the surrounding area. Consequently, delaying repairs can result in higher costs associated with fixing the pothole.
Potholes can be caused by various factors, such as using low-quality materials during installation, inadequate initial installation, or the age of the asphalt. However, one culprit that stands out among the others is water. Water infiltration through asphalt is the primary cause of potholes.
When water penetrates into the base material (layer below the asphalt) it causes the base to weaken and not be able to support the load of cars. As traffic passes over the weakened area the asphalt starts to crack and form a pothole.
Also, the freeze-thaw cycle can cause the saturate base to shift and heave which will impact the top layer of asphalt.
There are couple of things you can do to prevent your asphalt surfaces from potholes. First, control water runoff. Down spots should be directed to sewers or areas of vegetation. Also, check that your sewers are draining correctly.
Next maintain your asphalt. Sealcoating your driveway or parking lot every 3 years helps keep your asphalt flexible reducing the chance of cracking. Also, if you notice cracks in your asphalt have them sealed.
Finally, if you notice a small pothole, have it repaired quickly, because it can grow in size.
There are multiple ways to patch asphalt. Depending on the season and the extent of the repair determines the type of repair.
Cold patch is a temporary patch. We use cold patch during the winter months when the asphalt plants are closed. A cold patch helps prevent additional weakening of the base. We recommend replacing this patch in the spring with a permeant patch.
Although hot patching potholes in your asphalt parking lot requires more labor and equipment than cold patching, it is a permanent solution for potholes.
The process of hot patching involves cutting the damaged area of the pavement into a rectangular shape to remove any unsound pavement within the site. This rectangle may be larger than the visible pothole, as the base layer may be damaged beyond what is immediately noticeable. Next, debris and water are removed from the space, and a bonding agent is applied to the sides of the cut rectangle. The hole is then filled with asphalt and compacted using a roller or compactor.
We understand you have many choices regarding asphalt maintenance companies, and we appreciate that you are considering us for your upcoming project. Here are a few reasons you should consider choosing us:
Local Owned: We are locally owned and operated. Not only will you be supporting a local business, but you can rest assured we will do our best to ensure we exceed your expectations in service and product.
High-quality materials: We ensure that our sealcoating products are the highest quality and provide you with the best-finished product.
Attention to detail: Sealcoating might seem like a simple task, but there are many little things that need to be done to ensure a quality product. Our attention to the details makes our work stand out.
Flexible Scheduling: As mentioned before, we partner with you to create a schedule that works for you but still gets the job done on time and on budget.
If you are ready to get started or would like a free no, obligation estimate, please call us at 608-797-5876 or use the estimate request button on this page.
