An Attractive Driveway

If your asphalt driveway is cracking in places, you may wonder why it's doing so and how can you stop it. Over time, asphalt can experience some issues that cause it crack, chip or wear away in places. Heat and moisture are two of the things that can damage your driveway. With the right information and tips, you can repair your driveway's asphalt and keep it from cracking even further. 

Are All Asphalt Cracks the Same?

One of the things you might do to solve your dilemma is to contact a contractor for help. An asphalt contractor can assess your driveway to determine why it's cracking in the first place. It's important to understand that not all asphalt cracks occur from the same sources or things, nor do they cause the same problems in your driveway. Knowing what type of cracks you have in your driveway may help you make the best decisions to repair it later.

Some cracks, such as edge cracks, develop when the soil and ground beneath asphalt pavement weaken or develop a drainage problem. These issues may occur when excessive water soaks into the soil beneath the driveway, or they may happen when plants or weeds grow beneath the pavement. The sides of your driveway may be too weak or deteriorated to stay functional. 

Other types of cracks like alligator cracks form when asphalt pavement weakens from too much traffic, such as the heavy wheels and weight of your truck or car. Alligator cracks can spread throughout the surface of the driveway and cause structural damage in it.

Now that you understand how and why your driveway has cracks, it's time to repair it.

What Can You Do to Repair Your Driveway?

One of the things an asphalt contractor may suggest is that you place or install a drainage system beneath your driveway to protect it from water in the future. You can place a system along the sides of the driveway to redirect water away from it, or you may choose to install a drainage system below the driveway. If you install a system below the driveway, you may need to remove parts of the driveway to do so. A contractor can help you select the best drainage system for your driveway when they inspect it.

Repairing the damaged surface of your asphalt driveway may include resurfacing it with new material. Resurfacing may require removing the top layer of pavement and coating it with new asphalt and sealant. If the cracks penetrated the layers below the surface, a contractor may fill in the cracks to stabilize the driveway. Both methods may be good options for you.

After the repairs, be sure to monitor the driveway regularly for future cracks. If problems do arise after the repairs, report the issues to an asphalt contractor immediately.

For more information about asphalt driveway cracks, contact a contractor today.