Four Substances that Can Destroy Your Asphalt Surfaces

Have you recently paved an asphalt driveway, sidewalk, or parking lot?  Asphalt is a great paving substance that offers durability, low maintenance, and an attractive finishing to your roads or driveways.  This popular paving material has a few enemies, however.  As professionals that work with asphalt paving in Austin, TX, we know a thing or two about how to prevent wear and tear on your asphalt surfaces.  We help our clients prevent wear and tear on their asphalt so that it can last longer and hold up in extreme weather.  There are a few common substances that can destroy your asphalt surfaces over time.

Heavy Traffic

Heavy traffic, especially from large vehicles and trucks, can have a negative impact on your asphalt.  They can increase ruts and deteriorate the pavement at a quicker rate simply because of their extra weight and pressure on the road.  This will degrade the durability of the asphalt, which can require premature replacements.  Be sure to encourage large vehicles to keep moving and not spend too much time being idle on your pavement.  Design parking lots and roads to have different options for traffic flow to keep everyone moving on different parts of the lot.

Sunlight

Sunlight has many damaging UV rays that require extra protection, just like our skin.  In order to protect your asphalt from the sun, you should sealcoat your asphalt at least every five years.  Without this protective layer, your asphalt could dry out and easily crack when it has too much exposure to the sun.  In Texas, we see many days of sunlight, so you'll definitely want to protect your asphalt with sealcoating any time you start to notice any damage.

Surface Water

When water pools on top of your asphalt surface for a long period of time, it can actually start to form cracks.  It can also cause potholes to develop, which will make your roads and driveways difficult to for traffic to drive.  Sealcoating is a great way to prevent some of these issues from forming, as it will provide a protective layer that prevents surface water from seeping into the asphalt itself.  

Gasoline

If you do not immediately clean up oil or fuel spills from your asphalt, it can encourage deterioration and softening of your asphalt surface.  Also, it will not stick to any sealcoating layers that are applied after the spill, which will leave part of your asphalt unprotected.  Make sure to immediately tend to any oil spills quickly so that you won't leave your asphalt susceptible to premature deterioration.

If you have recently gotten asphalt paving in Austin, TX, you'll want to prevent these substances from destroying your surface and degrading the quality of your asphalt.  When you prevent damage on your recently paved sidewalk, driveway, or road, you will be able to enjoy your asphalt for a longer period of time.  Trust our experts in asphalt paving in Austin, TX to help with your paving needs.  Contact us to hear about our range of services today.