When the snow and ice of winter arrive, the inclement seasonal weather can put a lot of strain on your business's parking lot. Not only is the asphalt pavement subjected to scraping from snowplows, but minor damage that was already present when the winter season began can also turn into larger problems.
While examining your parking lot, you may have discovered that the pavement is starting to crack in some areas. Even if the cracking seems minor, there are a couple of reasons why you should have a professional repair the cracks caused by winter weather in your business's asphalt parking lot as soon as possible.
1. Ice Inside the Cracks Freezes and Expands, Causing Further Cracking and Crumbling of the Pavement
One reason why you need to have the cracks in the asphalt pavement taken care of is that they will fill up with ice when the water within them freezes or during ice storms. When the ice is forming, it will expand and push outward toward the sides of the cracks.
When the ice melts and then refreezes, the contraction and expansion of the freezing water will also put pressure on the asphalt. If not prevented by having the cracks filled in once the weather warms up a bit, the cracks will grow, and the asphalt will start to crumble.
2. Melting Snow and Ice Will Carry Rock Salt Residue into the Cracks, Causing the Breakdown of the Asphalt and Substrate
Another reason why you should have a paving contractor fill in your cracks is that the melting snow and ice will carry rock salt residue into the cracks. Because the chemicals of rock salt are caustic, they will break down the asphalt material and can cause further damage such as crumbling or cracking.
Along with the pavement, the residue will also break down the substrate underneath, which can cause catastrophic damage to the asphalt's support structure. The cracks will need to be filled and sealed to keep the rock salt from causing further deterioration.
When your business's parking lot is cracked from winter weather, the damage can get worse as the season progresses. Ice expansion within the cracks can make them grow or cause the crumbling of the pavement. As the ice and snow melt, they will carry rock salt residue along with the water to cause further breakdown of the asphalt and substrate. Contact a commercial asphalt paving contractor to have them inspect the damage and determine what needs to be done to repair the cracks.
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