Preparation: Cracks & Potholes Before Winter
Preparation: Cracks & Potholes Before Winter
Asphalt pavement is engineered to give you many years of attractive service. The exact life you can expect from your asphalt surface depends on several different factors, including usage, but one of the most critical factors is whether the pavement receives the kind of maintenance it needs. Keeping your pavement clean and sealcoated are both extremely helpful, but repairing potholes and asphalt cracks is even more important for extending the pavement’s life.
Preparation: Cracks & Potholes Before Winter
Neglected breaks in the pavement will always worsen in time, even in areas of the country that have temperatures that never reach the freezing point. In areas such as the Cape, however, winter weather can wreak havoc on asphalt pavement if cracks and potholes are not taken care of before winter hits.
• Cracks and potholes let water infiltrate beneath the pavement. When the water freezes, it expands, causing more cracking and allowing additional potholes to develop.
• Your pavement relies on a stable foundation for strength. Water, whether it is frozen or liquid, is your foundation’s enemy. A damaged foundation can be costly to repair as it requires the removal and replacement of the pavement.
• During a typical winter in the Cape Cod area, enough snow falls to require streets, parking lots and driveways to need clearing. Snow removal can be performed without damaging the pavement if the surface is unbroken. However, when there are potholes or unrepaired cracks, blades on snowplows or shovels can catch the damaged area and break off chunks of the pavement.
• Potholes pose a special liability for property owners. Even in summer, potholes can cause damage to vehicles that drive over them and place pedestrians at risk of tripping or falling. In the winter, the potholes can fill with ice, increasing the hazards even more.
Dirtworks is a full-service asphalt contractor with more than 20 years of experience providing services to customers throughout the Cape Cod area. Whether you need potholes repaired in your parking lot, a driveway built or sealcoat a parking lot, we can provide you with superior results at competitive rates. You can request a free quote by submitting our online form or calling (508) 240-5541.
