crack repair

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Here in Colorado, we see several common types of asphalt cracks. Some cracks are load-related and some are attributable to temperature or environment. The repair depends on the type of crack. Some of these types include:

• Longitudinal cracks in asphalt paving are cracks that run in the direction of asphalt application (along a driveway or road.) They can be caused by various factors including: 
• poorly constructed joints
• shrinking/expansion of the asphalt with temperature cycles, and
• cracks reflecting up from an underlying layer
• The presence of longitudinal cracks in asphalt paving is not load-related.

How to fix Longitudinal cracks

• Minor cracks - ¾” or less we can apply our hot rubberized crack fill
• Larger cracks - than ¾” give us a call to come out and access the situation so we may give you a better solution to fixing your issue

    Alligator cracking otherwise known as fatigue cracking is one of the most common ways that asphalt pavement can deteriorate over time. It gets its name from the distinctive cracking patterns that resemble the scales on an alligator’s back. 

- Alligator cracking is a type of load-related deterioration resulting from:

• a weakened base course or sub-grade,
• too little pavement thickness,
• overloading, or
• a combination of these factors
• Once alligator cracks form, the pavement will continue to deteriorate unless you take action.

HOW TO FIX ALLIGATOR CRACKING IN ASPHALT

• A short-term fix is to apply crack fill or sealcoat to stop water and debris from getting into the cracks and making them worse.  Next, if at all possible you should restrict traffic in the affected area because vehicles driving over the weakened pavement will damage the asphalt surface further.
• Permanent repair of an area experiencing alligator cracking requires a cut and replacement of the damaged section of asphalt. 

• Edge cracks are longitudinal cracks that develop within one or two feet of the outer edge of a pavement and are more commonly seen on rural roads and driveways than in city streets. 
• Edge cracking happens because of a lack of support at the pavement edge and, because rural roads and driveways tend to be narrow, traffic is forced to drive close to these outer edges. 
• Poor drainage, poor quality base/sub-base, and asphalt shrinkage can also contribute to the formation of edge cracks.  If you don’t take care of edge cracks, they will expand and lengthen, and more will appear toward the centerline of the pavement.

HOW TO FIX EDGE CRACKS IN ASPHALT

• Minor edge cracks – Use a crack sealant to fill smaller cracks at the first sign of damage.
• More significant edge cracks – Fix damage using the patching or replacing method that addresses the root cause of the edge cracks.

• Transverse cracking usually occurs when the asphalt is exposed to cool or declining temperatures before it has completely hardened and while the hot asphalt mixture is still warm; this is why it is also referred to as thermal cracking in asphalt pavement. As the temperature in the climate decreases, the asphalt begins to tighten and then it contracts and shrinks and this causes it to crack in a pattern that is perpendicular or transverse to the pavement’s centreline. 
• This type of crack is not load-related. 

How to fix Transverse cracks

• Minor cracks - ¾” or less we can apply our hot rubberized crack fill
• Larger cracks - than ¾” give us a call to come out and access the situation so we may give you a better solution to fixing your issue