Key Takeaways:
- Regular maintenance helps extend the life of your asphalt pavement
- For your asphalt pavement to last longer, it is important to have adequate drainage. Ensure that the pavement’s surface slopes away from buildings and other structures and that water can collect in no low spots or depressions.
- Avoid overloading your pavement; heavy vehicles such as trucks and buses and heavy equipment or large events on the pavement can cause significant damage and shorten its lifespan.
- Letting grass and weeds grow on or near your asphalt pavement can affect longevity. Removing grass or weeds is essential.
- Neglecting speed limits on your asphalt pavement can cause significant damage over time.
- Removing snow from your asphalt pavement is essential to prolong its lifespan.
- Regularly inspect and maintain your pavement and address any issues, to ensure that it remains safe and functional.
Asphalt is a popular for paving driveways, parking lots, and roads because it is affordable and long-lasting. However, even the most well-constructed pavement will deteriorate over time. Prolonging the life of your asphalt pavement saves you money in the long run and ensures that the surface remains safe and functional for those who use it. This post will discuss several ways to prolong the life of your pavement.
Eight Ways to Prolong an Asphalt Pavement’s Life
Regular Maintenance
Regular maintenance is key to prolonging the life of your asphalt pavement. This includes tasks such as sealcoating, crack filling, and patching. Sealcoating involves applying a protective layer to the asphalt’s surface, which helps prevent water and UV damage. Crack filling is important because cracks can allow water to penetrate the pavement’s base, causing it to weaken and eventually fail. Patching is also crucial because it addresses any areas of the pavement that have already begun to deteriorate. Regularly maintaining your asphalt pavement can ensure issues are addressed before they become significant problems.
Check out our blog post about asphalt patching.
Proper Drainage
Water not drained adequately from the pavement can cause damage in many ways. First, it can cause the pavement’s base to become saturated, weakening the surface and making it more prone to failure. Second, water can freeze and thaw, causing the pavement surface to crack and break apart. To ensure proper drainage, ensure that the pavement surface slopes away from buildings and other structures and that there are no low spots or depressions where water can collect.
Avoiding Overloading
Overloading your asphalt pavement can cause significant damage and shorten its lifespan. This includes heavy vehicles such as trucks and buses, parking heavy equipment, or holding large events on the pavement. If your pavement is not designed to handle heavy loads, it will begin to crack and break apart under the weight. To avoid overloading your pavement, ensure you are aware of the weight limits and that you are not exceeding them. If your pavement is not designed to handle heavy loads, consider reinforcing it with additional layers or a thicker base.
Don’t Let Grass and Weeds Grow
It can harm its longevity by allowing grass and weeds to grow on or near your asphalt pavement. Grass and weeds can cause damage in several ways. First, their roots can grow into the pavement and weaken the base, causing it to crack and break apart. Second, the plants can absorb water and cause the pavement surface to become uneven, creating tripping hazards for pedestrians and making it difficult for vehicles to navigate. To avoid this, regularly maintain the area around your pavement by removing any grass or weeds that may be growing. This can be done by hand or with the use of herbicides.
Don’t Allow Water to Pool
Allowing water to pool on your asphalt pavement can cause significant damage over time. When water is allowed to sit on the pavement’s surface, it can seep into the base and cause it to weaken, leading to potholes and other surface defects. To prevent water from pooling, ensure that the surface is sloped correctly and that any low spots or depressions are filled. Additionally, it is vital to ensure that any drainage systems near your pavement are working correctly and not clogged with debris.
Don’t Neglect Speed Limits
Neglecting speed limits on your asphalt pavement can cause significant damage over time. Vehicles traveling at high speeds on a pavement surface can cause the surface to wear out more quickly. High speeds can also cause the pavement to crack and break apart, creating hazards for vehicles and pedestrians. To prevent this, enforce speed limits on your pavement and ensure drivers are aware of the limits. This can be done by posting signs, painting speed limit markings on the pavement, and using speed cameras or other enforcement tools.
Remove Snow
Removing snow from your pavement is important to prolong its lifespan. When snow is allowed to accumulate on the surface of the pavement, it can cause the surface to become slippery, creating hazards for pedestrians and vehicles. When the snow melts and then freezes, it can cause the pavement’s surface to crack and break apart. Regularly remove snow from your pavement and ensure that any snow that does accumulate is removed as quickly as possible. This can be done using snow plows, shovels, or other snow removal tools. Ensure that any salts or de-icing chemicals used on the pavement are safe for use on asphalt surfaces.
Conclusion
Prolonging your pavement’s life requires regular maintenance, proper drainage, avoiding overloading, and pavement marking. By taking the necessary steps to ensure that your pavement is in good condition, you can ensure that it remains safe and functional. Regularly inspect and maintain your pavement, addressing any issues before they become significant problems. Furthermore, ensure proper drainage, avoid overloading, and use high-quality pavement marking materials to prolong the life of your asphalt pavement. By following these tips, you can rest assured that your pavement will continue to serve you well for many years.
When seeking a reliable and professional asphalt paving service, look no further than Atkins Paving, serving Charlotte, NC. We have experienced and skilled professionals dedicated to providing high-quality asphalt paving service to our customers. We offer asphalt paving services, including sealcoating, crack filling, and patching.
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