Asphalt is durable, but there are many tips to keep it looking its best.
Asphalt, like anything else, breaks down over time. This happens especially quickly
in the summer. The increased heat, sunlight, and traffic will cause more damage to
your asphalt surface in the summer than any other time of year. For this reason, it is
especially important to make any necessary repairs as soon as they are needed. A
small repair now and then can save you big headaches down the road. These are
some of the things that can cause damage to your asphalt surface.
Damaging UV Rays
Asphalt is made up of rock, sand and aggregates which are bound together by
asphalt cement that acts a lot like glue. The increased UV rays of summer can cause
the asphalt to deteriorate. Once that happens, there’s nothing holding the rock
together so your asphalt surface will start to crumble. You will notice loose gravel
on your asphalt surface. If you see this, it’s time for a repair.
Large Vehicles Causing Asphalt Damage
In the summer time, the number of trucks and large vehicles on the roads increases
exponentially. Groups are taking bus trips, people are going places in RVs and
campers, and tractor-trailers are carrying more stock and building materials to
stores and construction sites everywhere. There’s just more traffic this time of year.
The increased traffic is great for the economy, but it wreaks havoc on asphalt
surfaces. The asphalt can start cracking under all of the added pressure. The
increase in temperature causes the asphalt to lose its elasticity, causing it to crack
even easier. Repair any cracks right away to prevent further damage.
Water Damage
Water can cause the most damage to your asphalt surface the fastest. The heavy,
driving rains of summer storms are especially hard on asphalt. The water pressure
alone is enough to cause damage by itself. Asphalt is a porous surface; water will
seep into any opening that it can find. If it gets down far enough, it can cause quite a
bit of damage to your asphalt. Be sure the asphalt surface is well sealed to prevent
some of this damage.
Summer Asphalt Repair with Testa Paving
If you are in the need of professional asphalt pavement services, Testa Paving Inc. is
here to help! For over 35 years, Testa Paving Inc. has been a driving force within the
industry and has been serving the areas of Maryland and northern Virginia.
Interested in one of the services offered by Testa Paving Inc.? Call us today at 301-
663-5861 or visit our contact page. Be sure to click “Like” or “Follow” on our
official Pinterest, Google+, Facebook, and Twitter pages today!