What Causes Pavement to Fail?
When your asphalt can no longer hold its original shape, it will fail. Pavement failure issues can be brought on by several different factors, such as water infiltration or sun exposure. At NVM, we specialize in full-service commercial paving and have the tools and knowledge to bring your lot back to its former glory. Here is a guide to the most common pavement failure issues and how you can combat them.
Potholes
Potholes form when water intrudes through cracks on the surface of the asphalt. If you do not treat stress cracks, the water starts to erode the surface and the subbase. Once this happens, you will have large holes forming in the asphalt. To fix a pothole, we can apply a patch to the surface.
Cracking
Most pavement failure issues happen because of cracks. Once you have cracks in your asphalt, they will continue to grow and spread. While it’s normal for your asphalt to have cracked over time, some cracks occur because of improper construction. We can assess your pavement to figure out what type of cracking you have and whether it needs to be fixed promptly.
Depression
Uneven subbases and compactions cause depressions in the parking lot surface. A depression is lower than the surface, so the area holds onto water. When you hold onto water for too long, you could wind up with potholes or raveling.
Raveling
As the topcoat of the asphalt degrades, and water intrudes, raveling occurs. Raveling is the damage between the asphalt bitumen and aggregate rock. If raveling happens, then your lot can no longer block water from entering the asphalt. The consequence is more cracks and failure.
Rutting
Rutting refers to channeled depressions on the surface. When vehicles that exceed your lot’s weight limit drive on the pavement, it can lead to rutting. It can also occur if your base was improperly constructed. To repair rutting, we have to repair or restructure the base.
Maintenance and regular repairs can keep your asphalt parking lot thriving for years to comes. Contact NVM Paving & Concrete today for a plan to repair and prevent pavement failure.
