How long does a driveway or a blacktop surface last? The answer to that question depends on a number of environmental variables that impact concrete or asphalt as they age. Weather and traffic are the two primary drivers in aging a paved surface, as progressive stress and gradual material degradation results in fading, cracks and, ultimately, potholes. Those issues will have to be repaired by Paving Contractors in Waterford CT unless damage has progressed to the point of requiring a complete repaving of the surface.
How A Paved Surface Ages
The durability of a paved surface, whether asphalt or concrete, depends on the quality of work put into laying down the surface, to begin with. A competent contractor will first have determined the appropriate slope or curve to facilitate proper drainage since water is one of the most destructive forces affecting asphalt and concrete. If the work is done properly, the paved surface will rest on a well-laid foundation of dirt and gravel with a thickness of a minimum four inches to a maximum of twelve, depending upon the anticipated traffic that has to be supported.
Weather works against asphalt and concrete in several ways. Rainwater erodes from both above and below as water seeps into the ground as well as running over the surface. Seasonal variances in temperature create a different set of stresses, with extreme summer heat acting on the binding material of the surface and cold winter temperatures causing frost and thawing damage.
Summer temperatures of over 95° F may result in the ground expansion that will cause a paved surface to crack and buckle. And, even when the more extreme damage effects are taken out of the equation, the steady breakdown of material degrades the integrity of the surface itself. This opens the way to the other prime source of damage: traffic.
The steady wear and tear of cars and heavy vehicles rolling over or resting on a paved surface, combined with damage from environmental factors, will eventually cause a paved surface to become brittle. This is when cracking first appears and, from that point, the first small potholes are bound to appear.
What Can Be Done?
Professional Paving Contractors in Waterford CT can advise property owners how to conduct simple maintenance and, when necessary, perform repair or repaving work as needed. Contact Sullivan Paving for advice or assessment today.
