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The most common elements that damage asphalt are UV rays from the sun, water, motor oil, tree roots, and heavy vehicles. When asphalt cracks, and water gets in the cracks, the base material under the asphalt gets saturated and washed out from beneath the asphalt. This allows the asphalt to eventually become a pothole.
Once there is a pothole, the base underneath it must be repaired before the asphalt repairs begin. Anyone who has done asphalt repair in Vancouver knows that water is the number one element that damages asphalt. The best way to ensure that your asphalt remains durable is to have proper drainage, and regular asphalt repairs Vancouver.
When thinking about starting asphalt repairs, first think about what might have caused the damage in the first place. Heavy vehicles constantly driving over asphalt can cause the pavement to fatigue, which is caused by heavy exposure to traffic. UV rays breakdown asphalt, making it dryer and brittle, which leads to more damages.
Dark asphalt surfaces will be about 10 degrees hotter than the outside temperature, if not more, depending on the weather conditions. The best way to protect your asphalt from the sun and UV rays is to use sealcoating. Including sealcoating into your regular asphalt repair routine will help slow down the aging process.
Tree roots over time can also cause disruption and damage to asphalt. The roots of trees often shift and grow to find nutrients. As these roots grow under nearby asphalt, they can lead to cracks and bumps. These bumps and cracks not only damage the asphalt’s surface from the inside out, but they can also be hazards to elderly people and people with mobility issues. If you notice any damage that looks like it can be caused by root systems, it is important to call professional pavement specialists, in order to figure out what the next step is.
Motor oil is often found leaking from cars. If a car is leaking oil and it is leaking in the same spot for prolonged periods of time, the motor oil can breakdown the asphalt.
Asphalt needs to be repaired and maintained like any other material. Asphalt repairs in Vancouver should be done immediately. If the asphalt is cracked and water gets into the cracks, the damage can become greater, and more expensive to repair.