How To Prevent Asphalt Cracks

As a flexible form of pavement, asphalt is designed to bend and adjust when it is exposed to load bearing forces. As such, asphalt pavement resists cracking if it is properly installed and maintained, and both are key to maximizing its lifespan.

All pavement eventually cracks to some extent, including high quality asphalt mixes that have been installed according to best practices. The goal is to minimize the presence of cracks and avoid the kind of cracks that may threaten the asphalt’s structural stability, and this should be handled by a reputable paving contractor.

Five Ways to Prevent Excessive Asphalt Cracking

Although asphalt will eventually crack to some extent, there are ways to control the impact on your pavement. Here are five ways to maintain the integrity of your asphalt paving:

1. Partner with a reputable asphalt pavement contractor – If the asphalt develops cracks early, it is typically due to improper installation methods or poor material quality. Reputable asphalt contractors prioritize best materials and best practices, ensuring that the asphalt is stable and set up for long-term durability. By partnering with a reputable asphalt contractor, you are essentially investing in high quality pavement.
2. Keep the asphalt’s surface clean – Rocks, pebbles, dirt and plastic debris will all accelerate wear to your asphalt pavement. If these materials find their way into cracks, they will interfere with the pavement’s ability to flex during thermal stresses, placing added internal stresses on the asphalt. These incompressible materials also cause abrasion-related wear to the pavement’s surface.
  The recommendation for property owners is to schedule periodic pavement cleaning services, like power sweeping. The results are improved pavement durability, which makes this process well worth the cost.
3. Remove overgrown vegetation around the asphalt – If vegetation is growing up to the edges of your asphalt, it can cause an issue termed edge cracking. Edge cracking is generally the result of poor perimeter reinforcement, but it can also be caused by root structures weaving their way into the asphalt and cracking it open. Ensure your landscaping isn’t encroaching on the pavement’s edge and keep it trimmed back to avoid edge cracking.
4. Maintain an on-time asphalt sealcoating schedule – Asphalt sealcoating is the primary form of preventative asphalt maintenance. During sealcoating, an asphalt-based emulsion is broomed or sprayed onto the pavement surface. Asphalt sealcoat acts as a protective layer for your pavement’s surface, shielding it from UV radiation and providing protection from rain and abrasion. Sealcoating also evens out the pavement’s texture and restores its appearance, so it is recommended for maintenance and aesthetic reasons.
  Asphalt will last longer with a professional sealcoat application every 18-24 months.
5. Respond as soon as cracks appear – If you notice cracking when inspecting your asphalt pavement, it is important to determine its cause. If cracking is due to normal weathering, it may be time to schedule a round of sealcoat or another surface treatment. If the cracks are severe and isolated to smaller areas, it may be a sign of an underlying issue with the pavement’s base or due to overloading.
  By scheduling an expert inspection with a knowledgeable paving contractor, you will get to the root cause of the cracking and be able to respond before the asphalt develops further damage.

What Causes Asphalt to Crack?

When asphalt cracks, there could be several factors behind it. Some of the more common factors include:

- Poor site preparation methods – During site preparation, the project site is cleared, graded and stabilized to ensure a usable pavement base. Any mistakes or cutting corners during this part of the process will inevitably result in cracking, as the base will not be sufficiently strong or stable enough to support the asphalt.
  Reputable asphalt paving crews dedicate extra time and resources to producing a reliable base for pavement. This includes testing soils, excavating unusable soils, performing chemical and mechanical stabilization and ensuring adequate drainage is in place.
- Poor pavement installation methods – Once the base is stable, your asphalt contractor will install the pavement one layer at a time. For commercial projects, this means running one or more asphalt pavers over the project area. Asphalt paving machines are designed to methodically layer asphalt to precise thicknesses, ensuring even curing and adequate load-bearing capacity.
  If pavement teams rush through this process, the result is uneven or poorly cured asphalt. Both will expose the asphalt to rapid wear and an increased risk of cracking.
- Insufficient cleaning and maintenance – If your asphalt is cluttered with solid debris, it is only a matter of time before those incompressible materials work their way into cracks and cause them to worsen. Dirt and rocks can also grind and chip away at the pavement’s surface, causing it to shed aggregate and crack.
- Overloading – Asphalt can handle extreme amounts of weight, but it has its limits. If your property receives a high volume of commercial traffic, it may stress the asphalt beyond its limits if that traffic is not properly routed through your property. For example, cracks may form in asphalt parking lots if they are used to store commercial trucks or machinery for long periods of time.
- Weather, wear and time – All asphalt eventually cracks due to the combined exposure of weather, wear and time. If your pavement is still early in its life cycle, then filling the cracks may be enough to preserve the asphalt long term. However, if your asphalt is nearing the end of its useful life, overlaying the asphalt or replacing it with fresh pavement may be necessary.

An Experienced Pavement Contractor Can Help Prevent Asphalt Cracks and Protect Your Investment

Although it is impossible to avoid all types of asphalt cracks, expert installation and maintenance practices will slow the rate of wear to your pavement and therefore reduce the likelihood of cracks forming.

Property owners can take additional steps to prevent asphalt cracks by keeping the pavement clean and clear of debris. Frequent pavement inspections are also recommended, even if this just means walking the property and looking for obvious signs of pavement damage. Responding promptly to any signs of damage is the best step property owners can take to extend their asphalt’s lifespan and reduce the onset of cracks. Partner with an experienced pavement contractor to ensure you get the maximum return on your investment.