The Hidden Issues of Asphalt Driveway Repair

On its surface, a cracked or weathered driveway appears to be a quick fix: Fill in the pothole, seal the surface, and it’s done. However, any old asphalt driveway repair pro will tell you that what appears on the surface is not always the complete story. The best fixes begin below the blacktop, with hidden conditions having much greater influence than homeowners typically consider.

The Sub-Base

The foundation is the backbone of any structure. Repairs on the surface will not last long if the sub-base is compromised by settling grounds, water seepage issues, or compaction issues. Asphalt needs a hard, smooth foundation to be hard and smooth. When dips and soft areas develop below, even with an otherwise flawless upper layer, they will buckle under the load. Part of the reason some driveways appear to deteriorate faster than others, even when recently repaired, is that the sub-base was not checked or strengthened.

Drainage

Drainage is one of the leading causes of driveway failure. When the water can’t go through, it infiltrates the seams and seeps under the surface, eroding the foundation and widening cracks over time. Even slight pooling can create long-term degradation. Water runoff, grade, and slope are key design considerations for your driveway. Nine times out of ten, what the owner thinks is a surface issue is the result of years of improper management of water. Any effective asphalt driveway repair solution always involves inspecting where water travels over the driveway and where it should be travelling instead.

Tree Roots

Another far-too-often-overlooked offender is tree roots. While the front yard tree is beautiful to look at, its roots might be quietly destroying your driveway from the underside. Roots don’t just stop in asphalt; they change direction and force their way upwards until asphalt surrenders. It creates raised spots, irregular patches, and fresh cracks that seem to reappear no matter how many times they are repaired. For this reason, we always take note of nearby trees when we’re surveying for driveway asphalt repair. Root barriers can be placed in some cases to prevent regrowth from extending over the areas of repair.

Freezing-Thaw Cycles

Freeze-thaw cycles damage asphalt in colder temperatures as the water seeps into cracks, freezes, expands the asphalt, and causes it to crack. When thawed, voids are created and filled with water again, and the process repeats. The damage may be unnoticeable, but the surface will continue deteriorating until it reaches the surface. The correct remedy is not patching but sealing with flexible asphalt mixtures and scheduling the repair work in good weather.

Past Repairs

Driveways carry the weight of previous repair work. Any prior repair done with outdated techniques will be the weak link in the structure. Poorly matched materials, insufficient patch depths, or even just bad timing (like patching in the rain or in searing heat) can all contribute to the early failure of the fixes. Our professional crew reviews the entire repair history when we inspect a driveway. That is why homeowners typically call us when other asphalt driveway repair jobs have not stood the test of time.

Also Read:
Signs You Need Driveway Asphalt Repair
Driveway Repair for Asphalt, Concrete, and Pavers