Key takeaways:
- The pavement needs to be regularly maintained to keep it in optimal condition.
- Paving professionals will consider various criteria when deciding whether to repair or repave, including the age and condition of the asphalt, required effort and labor, cost vs. benefit ratio, and sub-surface issues.
- If the pavement is cracked or otherwise damaged, repairs may be necessary. However, a full repave may be necessary if the damage is severe or the pavement is at the end of its useful life.
- Weather conditions can also play a role in deciding whether to repair or repave an asphalt surface; extreme temperature fluctuations or severe weather conditions may necessitate a full repave.
Pavement is integral to any residential or commercial property. It needs a regular maintenance plan to keep it in optimal condition. But how do you know when your pavement needs repair or repaving? Knowing the signs of damage can help you decide if and when you should call a paving professional for help. When considering repair or repaving, let’s look at what paving professionals will look for.
Asphalt Repair vs. Repaving – How do You Decide?
While repairs can only address minor damage and wear and tear, serious degradation will almost certainly necessitate the installation of new asphalt paving. Before making recommendations on repairing or repaving your pavement, professional pavers will consider various criteria. This includes the following:
Age and Condition of the Asphalt
The age of the asphalt is one of the most important deciding factors. Generally speaking, if the asphalt has been in service for more than 20 years, it’s time to invest in a full repave. However, if it’s less than 20 years old, there’s still hope that it can be repaired and restored. The condition of the asphalt is also an important consideration; any deep cracks or signs of significant damage may indicate that a repave is necessary.
Required Effort and Labor
Even if the surface cracks are small, the effort and time required for patching and repairs may not be proportional to the benefits of repaving. This is particularly true if there are early warning signs of underlying issues or your pavement reaches the end of its usable life. In such circumstances, paving professionals may recommend repaving rather than repairs.
Cost vs. Benefit Ratio
Finally, paving professionals will consider cost and benefit when repairing or repaving an asphalt surface. While repairing may be cheaper in the short run, it may not last as long as a full repaving—which means that you could spend more money over time on repairs than you would have spent on a new pavement job initially. On the other hand, if repairs can keep your pavement in good condition for several more years before needing another repaving job done, that might be preferable from both a monetary and practical standpoint.
Sub-Surface Issues
Before beginning any repairs or repaving jobs, professionals should inspect below ground level to ensure there isn’t any major sub-surface damage like shifting ground or drainage problems. If they find an issue like this, they’ll have to address it before moving on with their work – otherwise, it could lead to major problems down the line!
Condition Of Base
Since asphalt pavements are made up of aggregate layers, resurfacing may be possible if the bottom levels are undamaged and strong enough to sustain a new layer. Professional pavers will fill and repair visible cracks and potholes before laying a new asphalt surface on top to make your pavement seem new. In reality, the cracking pattern may provide a quite accurate estimate of the extent of damage to your paved surface:
- Fatigue/Alligator Cracks: This is a frequent kind of asphalt cracking caused by severe weather, poor drainage, and inadequate base materials. The pavement looks dry and broken, like the skin of an alligator. Your pavers might do a full-depth repair to repair such cracks,
- Block Cracks: Improper aggregate layer laying or excessively low temperatures can cause massive rectangular or square-shaped cracks to form on the surface. Use a thin overlay to repair these gaps.
- Edge cracks: Edge cracks can form on road or parking lot margins or near a curb due to poor drainage and insufficient time for the aggregate materials to dry. To solve this issue, the crew will remove vegetation and debris from the margins and patch the cracks using asphalt sealant.
- Longitudinal or reflective cracks: The paved surface may develop linear cracks due to poor traffic lane junction constructions. A sealant is used to patch them. Reflective fissures signal deeper problems from the foundation layer to the top surface. However, they are simple to repair using crack filler.
- Slippage Cracking: If there is a lot of sand in the asphalt aggregate, it may not bind well with the other ingredients in the mix. This can result in crescent-shaped cracks that must be handled quickly with partial or full-depth patch-up.
- Transverse Gaps: Extremely low temperatures cause the aggregate materials to shrink, while heavy traffic widens the cracks even further. If identified early, such perpendicular cracking can be repaired using patching. However, water will leak into the interior layers when the fractures grow, forcing you to repave.
Weather Conditions
Another factor that goes into the decision-making process is weather conditions. If it’s an area where there are extreme temperature fluctuations or severe weather conditions like hail, snow, or heavy rains, then repair and seal coating may not be enough to protect the surface from further damage. In this case, repaving may be the best option.
Ending Note:
Making sure your pavement is in good condition isn’t something you should take lightly; after all, faulty pavement can cause serious safety hazards for pedestrians and motorists alike! It’s important to have a professional assess your pavement periodically so they can identify any potential issues before they become more expensive problems down the line. By understanding what paving professionals look for when considering repair or repave jobs, you’ll be better equipped to make informed decisions about your property’s needs moving forward!
Atkins Paving provides high-quality paving services in Lancaster, SC, that will restore your parking lot or driveway and keep it safe and smooth all year. Our crew has extensive asphalt paving and maintenance expertise, including crack filling, seal coating, striping, and other services.
