Laying Down the Pavement

5 Signs You Should Repave A Surface

26 September 2022 by Clifton Sullivan

A properly paved asphalt surface should provide years of service with minimal cleaning and resealing. However, even the best work by asphalt paving contractors will eventually call for repaving. If these five issues are present, it may be time to talk about redoing the surface.

Raveling

Most types of asphalt surfaces include some aggregates that provide friction. Gravel is the common aggregate, but it can come up due to weathering or wear. Eventually, this produces a very rough and uneven surface. Worse, it might foster the development of potholes. If the surface is starting to look like rough sandpaper or craggy rocks, talk to some paving contractors about resurfacing the site.

Waves, Dips, or Grooves

You can also have smooth areas that are problematic. These often appear as waves, dips, or grooves. Waves may appear because the ground is shifting and damaging the asphalt. Dips often appear when the asphalt is insufficiently compacted and then depresses under pressure. Grooves emerge after tires or feet wear the surface down through repetition.

Paving contractors will sometimes fill these in temporarily, especially if the weather isn't great for resurfacing. However, you should repave the location once the weather turns your way.

Large Cracks

You can usually seal cracks that are less than a quarter-inch in width. Likewise, there are times when fillers will do the job. However, cracks can rapidly expand. Especially if you're seeing many cracks, it's smart to tear out the old surface and start anew. This is particularly true if you're starting to see sections of the surface crumble or fall away.

Edge Deterioration

Many paved surfaces don't have complete bases. For example, someone might lightly surface an area to use as a driveway for light vehicles. However, this can create problems at the edges. For example, the edges may develop longitudinal cracks. These can then start to pull away from the rest of the pavement.

It may be possible to just redo the edges. However, the paving contractors usually have to cut out the affected areas and then pave strips to create fresh edging.

Collecting Water

A paved surface can often prevent water from draining. If you see water collecting on the asphalt, it may be time to resurface the site. This is especially true if the water presents a significant driving hazard.

Paving contractors have multiple options. In some cases, you might need to re-engineer the location's drainage system before repaving. However, a looser mixture of asphalt may also allow water to drain through it.

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