How to Extend the Lifespan of Asphalt
Online, July 7, 2014 (Newswire.com) - Enterprise Commercial Paving created an infographic about what damages asphalt and how to extend the life of asphalt. It is part of their ongoing effort to create informative articles and media for their industry and customers.
What Damages Asphalt
The causes of damage to asphalt are sun, weather (especially rain and cold), fuels, and traffic.
UV rays from the sun breakdown the petroleum-based components of asphalt, weakening it as well as causing it to fade. Rain seeps through the asphalt or works its way underneath it and weakens the foundation while cold weather creates ice which expands cracks and leads to fractured asphalt - which makes it even more vulnerable to rain and cold. Fuels dilute, namely diesel and gasoline, dilute the petroleum components in asphalt and weaken the bond of the aggregate materials, resulting in cracks, fractures, and holes. Finally, traffic is mechanically abusive to asphalt causing cracks, break, and holes.
How to Make Asphalt Last Longer
Extending the life of asphalt is a matter of regular inspection, maintenance, and attention to repairing failures before they get out of hand.
Assuming the asphalt foundation is strong and the asphalt was mixed and spread properly during construction, most asphalt failures will be a result of overloading or fatigue, cracks caused by expansion and contraction due to weather, or potholes or other loss of aggregate. There are other types of asphalt failures that are related to improper asphalt mixtures or sub-par installation practices.
Once recognized, damaged asphalt should be addressed as soon as possible to prevent further damage and, in many cases, reduce liability of damage to vehicles or property. Cracks and fractures should be filled and sealed. Potholes may require patching and should then be sealed to resist future recurrence.
Regular maintenance including inspection and repair of longitudinal cracks along with re-sealing every two to three years will give your asphalt the longest lifespan. Enterprise Commercial Paving offers asphalt maintenance if you are interested in extending the life of your asphalt.
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