What Causes Asphalt Driveways To Crack, Fade And Fall Apart?
When it's first installed, your asphalt driveway will be a beautiful, rich black color. It will have well-trimmed edges with a smooth, gently sloping surface that will allow rain to run off the sides. Your freshly laid asphalt driveway will be water and chemical resistant.
Over time, the rich black color of your driveway will fade until the surface appears to be a light gray or whitish color. Water will begin to soak into the driveway, instead of running off the sides, as it used to. The surface of the driveway will become slightly uneven. This is natural and expected.
Rain, Sun and Chemicals Are Responsible
There are many factors in the external environment that can cause your driveway to change its appearance in this way. A combination of exposure to rain water, UV rays and chemicals can cause the surface of the asphalt to break down and the pores of the asphalt to be exposed. When this happens, the water resistance and chemical resistance of your driveway will be compromised.
Rainwater Causes Your Driveway to Deteriorate Further
This deterioration of the protective top layer of asphalt leaves your driveway vulnerable to the elements. Rain water is absorbed into the asphalt until it penetrates the base of the driveway, causing the foundation to settle improperly and the asphalt to crack.
Once the asphalt cracks, water absorption increases and the settling of the foundation becomes more pronounced. This results in a phenomenon called alligator cracking. Alligator cracks are a network of interconnected crevices that absorb even more rainwater and cause even more settling of the foundation. Freeze-thaw cycles and regular saturation by rainwater can cause the driveway to develop potholes, pits and depressions.
Deterioration Can Be Avoided By Sealcoating
Sealcoating is a protective layer that restores your driveway's original water and chemical resistance. Sealcoating must be applied to asphalt on a regular basis, every few years, to ensure that the driveway is protected from UV rays and maintains resistance to rainwater and chemicals.
Sealcoating is black in color, and will make your driveway look almost new again. Although sealcoating can be done as a DIY project, the most professional sealcoating is often applied by experienced paving contractors. Sealcoating is a regular part of asphalt driveway maintenance.
For more information about how your asphalt driveway can benefit from a new sealcoating, contact a paving contractor in your area today. He or she will be able to give you a quote and make more suggestions for the care of your driveway.