If your pavement starts cracking or having issues earlier than expected, it’s probably not your fault. Properly poured and well-maintained asphalt should look great for many years. But if you’re not getting the longevity out of your pavement that you thought you would, it could be because of a poor installation job. If you’re considering asphalt, watch for the following potential problems. If you think you see issues in your finished asphalt pavement, reach out to a professional to get their advice. Here are some identifying features of a bad job:
- It doesn’t look like they’re pouring a thick enough layer. Too thin of a layer of asphalt won’t hold up well. Two to three inches is the basic rule of thumb, so if your contractors are telling you your job only needs one inch, that’s not a good sign. Two to three inches will minimize cracking and retains the structural integrity of the asphalt. You should also have several inches of base aggregate underneath the asphalt.
- Transition areas aren’t smooth. Transitions between old and new pavement should be smooth enough to walk on and for cars to drive over. Also, transitions between different pavement types, such as an asphalt parking lot with concrete gutters and curbing, should be clean and neat. If the edges of the lot or the lines between transitional areas are messy or sloppy, it generally shows a lack of care in the overall application process.
- Water is pooling or not draining efficiently. Standing water will break down asphalt, so you never want to see pooling water just sitting on top for hours. Small puddles during a rainstorm, however, is normal if they clear up quickly afterward. Standing water can seep into small cracks and create damage over time—the more water that gets in, the more issues you can have. If your asphalt job isn’t draining well, you’ll need to take action immediately to remedy the problem.
- No primer is applied when covering old asphalt. A good prime coat helps the new asphalt to bond to the old asphalt. This isn’t needed for all projects, but if you’re overlaying the product or need to cover previous asphalt, this is very beneficial in making sure everything stayed connected and sturdy.
- Your contractors don’t seal the asphalt. Seal coating is very important to protect your investment. If your team doesn’t seal coat the asphalt, cracks and potholes will occur quickly. Make sure they take ample time to seal the entire pavement area properly. Additionally, you’ll want to seal coat every three to keep the protective layer working.
- The overall works looks sloppy. If you look at your pavement and you see waves, bumps, or inconsistencies, this is a sign of poor workmanship. Your contractor’s team should be highly detailed and conscious of their product quality. They should take special care on prep work, edges, curbs, and sealing to ensure you have a durable product.
For the highest quality asphalt job and upkeep on maintenance needs, put your trust into Go Pave Utah.
