How To Stop Your Asphalt Driveway From Crumbling And Cracking

A driveway should be nice and smooth, so the sight of alligator cracking, crumbling, and chipping is more than just unpleasant. You know something's gone very wrong, but what? The problem often lies either with the base underneath the asphalt or the sealcoating (or lack thereof) that should be on the surface of the asphalt. When one or both of these is not working as they should or was not installed properly, the whole driveway can suffer. Fixing the problem, once you know what it is, is straightforward but needs to be done quickly to prevent further problems. 

Did You Have It Sealcoated?

First, did you have the existing driveway sealed or seal coated when it was first installed? (If you bought the home after its installation, did you add sealcoating?) If not, there's your problem; without sealant or sealcoating, the asphalt is subject to water intrusion and ice expansion, both of which can make the surface fall apart. Sealcoating presents a barrier to water and other moisture, protecting the asphalt from things like ice expansion.

Have the Base Redone and the Asphalt Patched or Replaced

If you did have it seal coated, it's possible the sealcoating was breached in areas due to impacts (e.g., branches falling on the driveway) or that the base beneath the driveway wasn't installed well. If the base is unstable, the surface can become uneven, essentially tearing holes in the sealcoating. You can't see those holes, but you can see the cracking and chipping that result. If this turns out to be the case, have the base redone; it will mean tearing out the driveway and redoing the whole thing, but you'll have a chance to have all of it done correctly, including another layer of sealcoating.

Ensure It's Sealcoated and Left to Dry Thoroughly

And definitely add that sealcoating. If you think that having new asphalt means the asphalt is inherently tougher, think again. The asphalt can absorb rain that turns into ice overnight during cold weather, creating more cracking and ruining the new asphalt. Sealcoating helps keep that moisture out and preserves the asphalt surface. You still need to be careful not to drop heavy items on the asphalt, of course, but you'll have an easier time keeping everything in good shape.

Contact a paving company that also does sealcoating to find out how long an inspection and potential work would take. Your driveway needs to be fixed, and the sooner you start, the better.

For more information, contact a company like Gateway Paving.


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