In Utah we have the wonderful pleasure of having four seasons. We have a spring, summer, fall, and winter. The summer is the perfect time to get your asphalt work done, which makes it our busy season here at Morgan Pavement. Before we know it, the cool air starts coming in and then the snow falls, and winter hits. The cold can affect your asphalt and here is how…
- The water can get into the cracks that are forming on your parking lots and roads. When this happens the freeze and thaw of winter will cause the asphalt to break up and loosen. This will widen cracks, cause more cracking and even cause potholes. For this reason, we recommend to crackseal your asphalt when you see the cracks forming.
- If the water is able to get low enough it will soak into the clay base and cause it to break up or become mushy. The soft base will make you feel like you are driving on a waterbed. It also disforms as you are driving on it until it is able to become solid again. Because of the movement underneath the asphalt will not be strong enough to hold its shape and it will crack and break. To prevent this problem, we recommend once again that you make sure the cracks are filled and that you have a good wear surface on top of the existing asphalt.
- Finally, the snow plow blades can increase the eroding process on your asphalt. Anything that scrapes the top of your asphalt can cause damage. Usually, the scrapes are minor and cause little damage. However, the sealers that you put over your asphalt like a sealcoat or a slurry seal can be scraped off in the process of snow removal. This will leave your lots unsealed and open for more damage. We recommend that when spring comes you assess the damages and consider resealing your lots to help maintain your asphalt. A few options for resealing include; seal coat, slurry seal, and chip seal. These options help to add a new wear surface to your asphalt and can protect it from future wear and tear.
The winter is a fun time of year but is also a time to watch out for asphalt damages. The freeze and thaw of wet snow can cause your asphalt to start deteriorating if it is not properly maintained. Remember to call Morgan Pavement at 801-544-5947 for all of your asphalt repairs and maintenance.
