Potholes are a problem that no one enjoys dealing with, but someone has to do it. If you are responsible for the maintenance of asphalt pavement, then chances are they are a problem that you will have to handle eventually. And with summer heat and hurricane season upon us, asphalt pavement is currently taking quite a beating. You are better off dealing with the problem sooner rather than later. The longer you wait the worse the problem will get. Read on to learn why exactly you want to fix potholes before winter.

Size

The larger a pothole gets, the more expensive the repair will be. This is because the bigger the pothole, the deeper and more extensive the repair needed. Finances may be tight right now, but with heat and rain, potholes will get bigger fast. If you can fix your potholes before winter, when colder temperatures exacerbate the issue, the better off you and your asphalt pavement will be.

Cold

While Florida may not have the coldest winters around, temperatures still dip down close to freezing at times. If there is any water in or, worse, under your pavement, it can get cold enough to freeze. These means that these patches of moisture are expanding and contracting, causing more damage to your asphalt pavement. As the temperatures fluctuate and the traffic continues to use your pavement, the added stress will fracture the surface of the asphalt allowing more moisture in, and on and on the cycle goes until the damage is all the way down into the sublayers of your pavement. This is why you are better off repairing any cracks or holes in your pavement now rather than waiting until winter hits.

Recommended Maintenance

So you have decided to repair your asphalt now in order to stave off any added winter damage risk. What should you be doing? Here are a few things we recommend to prepare your asphalt before winter.

Sealcoating

Every three to five years you should have your asphalt sealed. This is done to smooth the surface and repair any minor damage that may be present on the surface. For this job to be done effectively, the nighttime temperature cannot drop below 50 degrees. You also want to do this before leaves start falling from trees, because you do not want a bunch of scattered leaves stuck to your pavement permanently.

Crack Filling

Cracks are unsightly and make your asphalt look old and worn out. They also spell trouble for your pavement, because cracks provide a way for water to seep into your pavement and cause more damage. If the water gets down into your foundation layers, you could be looking at some seriously expensive repairs. Deal with cracks and potholes early, so that the repair process is minimally invasive and keeps the costs down.