Should I Worry about Cracks in my Pavement?
Monday, March 5th, 2018
When winter fades and spring begins, the ground becomes visible again and everything comes to life. It’s a beautiful transition, but it might also uncover an unsightly driveway that has been cracked and damaged by the cold temperatures, snow, and ice of winter. Let’s take a look at the threat cracks pose to your pavement and what to do about them!
What Causes Pavement Cracks?
There are plenty of reasons for cracks in your pavement:
- A poorly constructed base or improper installation
- Prolonged storage of heavy vehicles or other machinery
- Old age of the driveway
- Nearby trees with invasive roots
- Use of salt (which melts snow and ice very quickly, allowing it to seep into the pores of your pavement and refreeze, causing expansion)
What Makes Cracks Worse?
We mentioned above that using salt during the winter to remove snow and ice from your driveway can cause cracks, but it can also make existing cracks worse. Winter is a time when pavement is most susceptible to damage, because the thawed ice and snow that seeps into the existing cracks melts rapidly with the use of salt. The refreezing of water that has made its way into your pavement pores leaves you with deeper and wider cracks than before the cold season began.
When Should I Worry?
Cracks that are under ¼” wide are usually signs of normal driveway use and are not indicators of deep damage to your pavement. Cracks larger than ¼” wide or more than a couple inches deep indicate more serious issues. Smaller cracks can usually be fixed by patching, but larger cracks require more detailed repairs. Depending on where the problem lies (in your pavement’s base/subbase, in a specific side or corner of your driveway, etc.), your best solution may be to replace the driveway altogether.
Who Can I Call for Help?
1-855-GOT-PAVING is a Maryland paving contractor dedicated to providing our customers with exceptional paving services at an affordable price. We are a family owned and operated business serving Howard, Carrol, Baltimore, and Anne Arundel Counties. Whether you need repairing, patching, sealing, grading, or installation of new pavement for driveways, parking lots, or asphalt, we are here to assist you!
Contact our professionals to learn more about the services we offer, or to request a free estimate for your paving project today!
MARYLAND ASPHALT PAVING COMPANY:
- SAVE MONEY
- PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT
- INCREASE PROPERTY VALUE
- BEAUTIFY YOUR PROPERTY
What Our Clients Say
Once again you have exceeded our expectations. The price was very reasonable (we did shop around) and professionalism was outstanding. Thanks for not trying to include add-on fees to make a higher profit and we are looking forward to working with you for many more years to come.
-M. Leo Storch Management
Mr Joseph was by far the most responsive of the three companies we contacted. He came to inspect or driveway on the date and time he promised, gave us a firm quote, and he and his crew arrived on the appointed day at the scheduled time. They edged and cleared the old surface, then laid the new asphalt with the edges tapered to align with our patio and sidewalk. When they were finished the new surface was truly beautiful (and functional).
-Spencer Lucas
