Asphalt paving installed correctly by a reputable paving company and properly maintained throughout its life should easily achieve a useful life of 15 to 20 years. However, many pavements have lasted 30 or 40 years without experiencing a major failure. Given the wide range of possible life expectancies, it can be difficult for property owners to determine whether their pavements are failing or simply in need of some minor repairs.
How To Identify Asphalt Pavement Failure
What Is Asphalt Pavement Failure?
Pavement failure can take a variety of forms. In general terms, an asphalt surface is considered to have experienced pavement failure when it becomes incapable of retaining its original shape. The deformation in shape can manifest in any of the following ways.
• Depressions: Depressed or sunken areas in the pavement often go unnoticed until it rains. These sunken areas will allow water to accumulate within them. The puddles will be present even after the rest of the pavement has shed the rain. Depressions may be the result of water penetration or installation errors made by paving contractors in Austin TX.
• Ruts: Rutting is the appearance of channels in the pavement that normally develop in the wheel lanes and follow the direction of vehicle travel. Ruts can be caused by vehicles that are heavier than the pavement was designed to support, but pavements built by asphalt contractors who do not construct the base properly can also develop ruts in a relatively short time.
• Cracks: It is common for asphalt paving in Austin TX pavements to develop some cracks from the settling of the soil, normal traffic, and seasonal changes in the temperature. However, alligator cracking is usually the result of water intrusion and/or overweight traffic. Edge cracking is normally the result of water damage, heavy usage, and/or inadequate base material. Linear cracks are those that run parallel to the edges of the pavement; they are typically the result of pavement fatigue, but they may also reflect a weak spot at a joint. Reflection cracks are those that mirror cracks in the underlying layers or that occur at joints; they can also be an indication that an underlying layer has shifted.
• Potholes: Potholes are normally the result of water infiltration. Neglected cracks allow water to erode the base. The eroded base allows voids to form, and the pavement will sag and break over these voids. The result is a pothole that will continue to grow as more water penetrates to the base and causes more erosion.
• Slippage: Slippage cracks can develop if paving contractors use too much sand in the asphalt mix or if the top layer of asphalt does not adhere properly to the layer beneath it. The asphalt pavement will have a wrinkled appearance and deep, open gaps.
• Corrugations: Bumps and lumps in the asphalt pavement are normally indicative of errors made by asphalt contractors. They can occur if the incorrect type of asphalt is used, the asphalt in the mix is excessive or there is moisture or contamination in the base.
If you are experiencing issues with your pavement, contact Alpha Paving, a leading asphalt Austin TX paving company. We are known for our integrity, our attention to customer service, our exemplary workmanship and our competitive rates. Our services include asphalt repairs, asphalt paving, asphalt resurfacing, seal coating, parking lot markings, road construction, concrete installation, concrete repairs, street maintenance and asphalt milling. Alpha Paving Industries is a premier asphalt company based in Austin, TX and Central Texas. The industries we provide are subdivisions, airports, municipalities, shopping malls, manufacturing facilities, warehouses, office complexes, hospitals, churches, schools and universities, hotels, property management firms, and restaurants. You can request a free quote by calling (512) 677-9001 or completing our online form.
