This is my guide to concrete. Concrete may not seem like a very sexy subject to write about but I hope that by the time you reach the end of this blog, you will have been inspired to use concrete to improve your home. Concrete isn't just for driveways and walls. You can use concrete in a lot of pretty creative ways around your home. I discovered this when I hired a team of concrete contractors. They were really great guys and while they were completing work around my home they taught me lots of cool things about working with concrete. I hope you enjoy this blog!
Asphalt driveways remain one of the top solutions for many a homeowner due to the durability and longevity that they offer. This endurance, coupled with asphalt's attractive appearance, also works to enhance the resale value of your property. Nevertheless, factors such as daily use, exposure to extreme weather changes, neglected maintenance and so on will all contribute to the onset of damage, which is typically in the form of cracks. The trick to restoring the functionality of the driveway is to identify these cracks early so that professional concrete contractors can attend to them. Otherwise, the damage stands the chance of causing irreversible deterioration. To help you maintain the lifespan of your asphalt driveways, read on to learn about the various asphalt driveway cracks, their causes and their repairs.
Edge cracks
As the name suggests, these cracks form along the periphery of the asphalt driveway. The cracks are characterised by their length and how they seem to be stretch towards the direction of the driveway. Edges cracks come about due to several things. First, if the soil beneath the driveway is excessively dry, it begins to shrink, and subsequently, the edges begin to crack. Other factors to be wary of include regular heavy traffic on the asphalt driveway and insufficient drainage around it. When these cracks are caught early, the contractors can eliminate them by applying an emulsion or sealant directly into the cracks. To prevent further damage, it is critical to invest in the installation of drainage channels and to limit the driveway's exposure to heavy vehicles.
Alligator cracks
Also referred to as fatigue cracks, this type of damage is characterised by the localisation of a multitude of tiny cracks. Their appearance is similar to that of an alligator's skin, hence the name. One of the most common reasons why fatigue cracks form is due to the improper installation of the asphalt. However, they can also come about due to deficient drainage that leads to moisture pooling on the asphalt and permeating into it, leading to progressive damage. Since alligator cracks are brought about due to defects in the various layers of the asphalt, from the sublayers to the surface, the contractors may need to overhaul the entire driveway. But if caught early, the damages can be fixed via strengthening the affected layers and patching the surface.
Other types of asphalt driveway cracks that will require professional attention include block cracks, reverse cracks, transverse cracks and more.
To learn more about asphalt driveways, contact a contractor.
Share11 August 2020
