Water is one of the most toxic components to asphalt. Knowing how to repair water damaged asphalt can help people correctly resolve this kind of problem.
Water can leak through gaps in the pavement and erode at the foundation. This will eventually cause portions of the asphalt to sink.
Water may also erode the margins of pavement and driveways over time. Fortunately, there are methods for repairing the water damaged asphalt.
Common Issues Of Asphalt
Before you can cure an asphalt pavement problem, you must first identify it. Here are eight typical asphalt paving concerns, as well as their causes.
1. Depression
Depressions are low portions of pavement that do not penetrate the asphalt and are often produced by insufficient compaction during the paving process. Water and debris that generally gather in depressions can wear on the asphalt surface and impair its integrity if not immediately repaired.
2. Potholes
Potholes are bowl-shaped depressions on the pavement surface that go down to the base course. Pothole edges can be sharp, and potholes in asphalt pavement can grow in size as moisture infiltrates the damaged area over time.
Water and other fluids can enter the pavement through cracks and further damage and expand, contract, and freeze depending on the conditions. Water’s continual expansion and contraction cause fissures to become potholes.
3. Linear cracking
Linear cracking occurs along pavement joints. Cracks arise when the joints between the two pieces are incorrectly formed.
Other causes include asphalt surface shrinkage, considerable daily temperature changes paired with excess water in and around the surface, and fissures in one or more of the sub-layers.
Drainage surrounding the surface should be addressed to prevent water seeping into the asphalt and beneath layers. Cracks should be filled with an asphalt-sand or emulsion slurry mixture.
4. Swelling of asphalt pavement
Pavement swells can also happen when water freezes in the soil, causing frost heaves. As the earth beneath your asphalt pavement shrinks and expands, the surface shifts, resulting in cracked, wrinkly, and bulging patches.
The swelling of asphalt pavement should be corrected as soon as it is discovered to avoid future deterioration and the need to replace the whole surface.
Repairing Water Damaged Asphalt
Different types of damages have other methods of repairing. Now that you have already determined what kind of damage the asphalt has, you can check the list below for the solutions.
1. For depressions
To fix small depressions, a simple asphalt patch on top of the existing pavement should be placed. Permanent repair of asphalt depressions necessitates the removal of the affected area, replacing the poor subgrade, and applying a full-depth patch over the repaired subgrade.
2. For potholes
Fill the pothole with patching material without any preparation or removal of water or debris. Using the mending truck tires, compact the patching material.
Look for a small crown in the compressed patch. If there is a depression, apply extra patching material and compress.
Remove any debris and water from the pothole for a semi-permanent pothole. Square up the pothole sides to be vertical, and the pavement is intact on all sides.
Insert the patching material into the squared-up hole. The material should mound in the middle, tapering down to the borders, and flush with the surrounding pavement edges.
Use a vibrating plate compactor or a single-drum vibratory roller to compact the patching material. Begin consolidating in the middle and work your way out to the edges, ensuring the patching material has a small crown.
This is done to ensure that following traffic loads compact it to the surrounding pavement height.
3. For linear cracks
Use a crack sealant to keep moisture out of the subgrade layers and keep the crack edges from traveling. After crack sealing, apply a fresh layer of seal coating over a broader area.
If it has a large crack, engage an asphalt expert to determine the origin of your extensive longitudinal cracks and offer a long-term remedy.
4. For swelling of asphalt pavement
The underlying soil’s vulnerability causes pavement swells to moisture and water, and it can only be repaired by excavating the affected area and laying a full-depth fix.
If you prefer to have a clean driveway, check the following articles about how to clean driveway with mildew and how to clean a driveway without pressure washer.
How To Prevent Asphalt From Being Water Damaged
When damage happens, it may be costly and time-consuming to fix. Property owners may expect to pay more if they let water damage spiral out of hand.
The best way to repair asphalt is to utilize regular maintenance and preventative measures to guard against water damage. Property owners can employ easy maintenance techniques regularly using this strategy.
While this necessitates more regular repairs and inspections, it can save them a lot of money and time in the long term.
Conclusion
It is preferable to first determine the asphalt damage type before fixing it because different forms of damage or cracks require different methods and treatments.
Knowing how to repair water damaged asphalt on your own can save you a lot of money but call a professional if the methods above do not apply to you.