When asphalt cracks and turns to potholes, you’ll need to repair it quickly to stop the damage from spreading. Concrete is more stable, but once asphalt gets damage you need to act quickly to maintain the integrity of the good asphalt left. In this post, we’re going to go over the main types of asphalt damage and your repair options.

Main Types of Asphalt Damage

Potholes

Sinkholes and potholes are different. Potholes are pieces of asphalt that are actually gone from the rest of the asphalt. In order to fill them, you’ll need a repaving.

Cracking

When concrete cracks, there are usually single fractures that run through the slabs. But when asphalt cracks, it spiderwebs outward. Once asphalt has a stress fracture it generally gets worse. Small sections of cracks can be repaired. But larger sections of cracks throughout the asphalt will need a more extensive repaving.

Sinkholes

Sinkholes and potholes seem similar, but sinkholes are areas of concave, compacted asphalt that are still in the ground. Generally, sinkholes form when the base is not well constructed, or when the base slowly erodes from wear and tear. Pressure and weight on the asphalt can cause it to start to impact, but they get help from the sun or colder climate. When the weather gets cold this can lead to cracking and further potholes.

Main Types of Asphalt Repair

Patching

Asphalt patching can repair everything from potholes to sinkholes. Patching starts with an asphalt emulsion which lays the groundwork for a new layer of asphalt on top. The emulsion should be still hot when the asphalt is spread, and it needs to be compacted quickly to even it out with the rest of the asphalt. Patching is difficult unless you have all the proper tools.

Crack Filling

Cracking spreads really easily on asphalt, so it should be filled as soon as you notice it. Water gets into the cracks and can make the damage spread further. Make sure the asphalt is dry, remove any debris from the crack, and then apply filler.

Removal and Resurfacing

If basic patching and crack filling isn’t enough, you might have to remove and resurface some of the concrete. This means that you’ll remove the top layer of asphalt to add a new one on top of the foundation. This gets rid of really bad cracking and extensive potholes.

Resurfacing isn’t just for cracking and repairs though! It can also help you maintain the drainage slope which is essential to prevent water from pooling and damaging the concrete. It can also give it a fresh coat of paint and repair the texture and color of fading asphalt, which can improve the look of the parking lot. If your asphalt is in good shape, you can even add a layer to the top to make it look better.

Minor Crack Repairs

Small cracks that are less than three-fourths of an inch can be filled with a basic emulsion asphalt. If the crack is about an inch or more, there is a special type of asphalt—cold mix asphalt—which can fill the crack and can be manually compounded.

Extensive Damage

When there is extensive damage to asphalt, you’ll need the help of a contractor. A contractor can identify the precise areas of pavement that need to be repeated. When they mark it off, the area should extend beyond the actual damage. This helps prevent additional cracking around the edges.

After the area is marked off, a special saw can cut the damaged asphalt out without cracking the asphalt that’s still good. The contractor can then spread gravel, heat the edges of the good asphalt, and fuse it with the new asphalt.