Now that the snow has melted, it’s time to take a good look at your driveway. Do you see cracks and potholes? If so, you’ll want to schedule asphalt driveway repair as soon as possible this spring. The longer you ignore cracks and potholes, the more likely the damage will reach your driveway’s foundation.
Below, you’ll find our checklist for what repairs you should schedule before the paving season is over.
For driveway cracks under an inch wide, buy some driveway crack filler from your local home improvement store. While small cracks can be easily repaired by DIY homeowners, deep cracks will need to be repaired by professionals.
If a driveway crack is wider than one inch, you run the risk of water seeping into the foundation to cause permanent structural damage. The sooner you call our driveway contractors, the less likely you’ll end up paying for extensive repairs.
Potholes are more likely to form at the end of your asphalt driveway where you turn your wheel. Thankfully, our asphalt contractors will be able to fill potholes before they permanently damage your driveway. If neglected, large potholes can allow water to seep into the foundation to cause lasting damage.
The sooner you hire an asphalt contractor for pothole repair, the more money you’ll save in the long run. Asphalt driveway repair is much more affordable than total replacement. Keep in mind that freeze-thaw cycles can also weaken pavement, making potholes more likely.
Sealcoating protects asphalt from UV rays, rain, snow, sleet, and automobile fluids. Once you have filled all the cracks and potholes, we recommend using asphalt sealer to maintain the look and function of your driveway for years to come.
It’s important you understand that sealcoating is a preventive measure. While sealer can’t
, it does prevent your driveway from weakening in the first place.You’ll need to wait for warm dry weather before you can schedule driveway sealcoating. We like to wait until both the air and ground temperatures are above 50 degrees. Even the best driveway sealer won’t cure properly if it’s applied to cold wet asphalt.
If your asphalt driveway paving is a large expense, repairs aren’t a long-term solution.
is beyond repair, one of our contractors will recommend total replacement. While we understandIf you’re making constant repairs to your driveway, it may be time to replace failing pavement. Signs of driveway failure include multiple potholes, standing water, and alligator cracking.
As the name suggests, alligator cracking resembles the scales of an alligator. Alligator cracking in your driveway is a sign of foundational failure and indicates your driveway will need to be replaced as soon as possible.
Don’t let your asphalt driveway fall into disrepair! Our asphalt driveway contractors in Grand Rapids, MI, would be more than happy to help. To request a free estimate, call A-1 Asphalt Inc. at (800) 871-4401.
This blog post has been updated.