Since your commercial asphalt is obviously something that’s outside all the time, it reacts to changes in the weather and temperature. But what happens when these things change and impact your pavement? Cooper Paving, a commercial paver in Annapolis, MD, explains.

Colder Temperatures

Winter temperatures are always prone to fluctuation. Sometimes it’ll be well below freezing, then jump up to 50 degrees the next day. The constant freezing and thawing process can cause damage to your asphalt. Even if you haven’t had rain or snow in a while, there could still be some precipitation lingering under the surface.

When it does rain or snow, water gets into small cracks that may be in your pavement. The water down in there freezes, causing it to expand. This process widens the crack, making it a bigger hazard the longer it’s left exposed to this cycle. Cracks can easily go on to form potholes and other large issues with your pavement.

Hotter Temperatures

The hotter it is, the more the pavement will start to expand. This is another way that pavement can start to crack. It can only expand so much while staying completely together. Once a paved area is cracked, it’ll continue to do so until the issue is taken care of. If you have an area that has small cracks now, it’s much easier to do a repair before the problem gets bigger.

Like with cold temperatures, cracks caused by heat can allow moisture in there. This erodes the sub-structures that are within the pavement, making them unstable. Air gaps are formed between the sub-layers and the top layer of asphalt. When weight is placed on this area, it starts to sag. The more that pressure is applied there, the more this divot will grow, until it eventually becomes a pothole.

Precipitation

No matter the weather, rain is likely to cause issues with your pavement. In the winter, rain easily turns into ice. Black ice forming on your lot makes it much more likely someone will slip or another catastrophe will occur. Being proactive and making sure you’re taking care of your lot before a storm is due can help immensely.

Making sure the grade of your area is suitable is important. You don’t want the rain to lay on the surface, causing problems with ice and cracks. But if the grade is too steep, rain and water will start to wash away the liquid asphalt. The entire top layer may erode away. When the liquid asphalt is eroded, your lot becomes mainly rocks and aggregate.

Commercial Paving in Annapolis, Maryland

Want to make sure your lot is ready to stand up to the Maryland weather? Call us or contact us online!