Why do asphalt driveways crack

Traffic is not usually a factor. Small cracks can be sealed. Overlay replacement is the usual remedy for more severe block cracking. Longitudinal cracks run paralleled to the pavement centerline. A number of factors could cause longitudinal cracking.

There can be shrinkage of the asphalt. A joint could have been constructed poorly. Improper paver operation can be a cause. The surface in these cases will need to be resealed with proper adjustments made.

Asphalt crack repair is important. As you can see from the many causes for asphalt cracks, it is vital to identify the problem correctly. Untreated cracks get larger and can lead to potholes. Once the problem is identified, the appropriate remedy or fix can usually quickly and safely bring the asphalt back to its proper function. Edge cracking Edge cracks are longitudinal cracks within a few feet of one of the edges of the pavement.

When the sun beats down on asphalt pavement, it creates heat and breaks down the aggregate material substances. But why does asphalt crack as a result of sunshine? Sunshine usually dries up asphalt surfaces, and just as moisture triggers cracks in asphalt, insufficient moisture can cause similar issues. Winter freeze-thaw cycles occur when water always seeps into cracks, freezes, and expands. As water seeps into an existing crack on the asphalt surface to the basement, it freezes and expands, and ultimately causes cracking.

This type of crack usually spreads across your pavement and resembles the skin of an alligator. Edge cracks are longitudinal in nature. They move inside the surface of the pavement within one to two feet. They are typically triggered by heavy traffic, lack of pavement edge support, soil drying, incorrect drainage, etc. Block cracks are huge interconnected rectangular cracks developed on the pavement surface. They are commonly caused by asphalt shrinkage, insufficient moisture, etc.

They are commonly triggered by longitudinal segregation, inferior constructed joints, asphalt shrinkage, etc. So why do asphalt cracks of this type happen directly on the underlying joints or cracks?

The reason is, existing cracks lack the initial bond that exists between the asphalt aggregates. Slippage cracking is crescent in shape. These cracks are formed due to the poor bond between the layers of a pavement or weak asphalt mix. It is essential to develop a good maintenance culture that would perfectly address any issue that your pavement may encounter as it ages.

This is to prevent further damages to your asphalt pavement. The most common ways to properly maintain your pavement are by:. The main reason why pavements collapse is water.

Water can get through cracks and down to the subgrade, either eroding it or freezing it, leading to cracking. Bonness has been providing driveway, curb and sidewalk installation services to Southwest Florida residents for over 35 years. To request a quote for asphalt driveway cost , call us at , or fill out this form. Covid We are open for business, serving your needs, while observing safe social distancing. Search for:. But before discussing how to prevent cracks in a recently installed driveway, we should first go over why cracks occur at all.

There are three main factors that naturally lead to cracking over time. All of these are natural and make cracks ultimately somewhat inevitable. When they occur a fix could be as simple as crack sealing or seal coating the affected area. There is not much you can do to stop sun, moisture, or ground movement from affecting your driveway.

However, these processes also take a long time and your driveway, if properly installed, should have many years before the wear and tear begins to show. Consequently, if your driveway is beginning to crack only a few years after installation there are other factors clearly at work, factors which you can address.

In some of these instances full depth asphalt reclamation could be recommended. Cracking is inevitable with age due to natural factors, but if your driveway is properly installed and cared for it should not start to suffer serious cracks until well into its lifespan.

Early significant cracking is often a sign of outside factors like tree roots and heavy weight interfering with your driveway and, most importantly, a bad installation.

The best way to avoid these problems is to get a good contractor to install your driveway. A contractor with good customer service who will install your driveway expertly on a sturdy, strong base.