Why Your Asphalt Cracks – And How to Prevent It

Asphalt is designed to be water-resistant, low-maintenance, and durable. However, even the toughest surfaces experience wear and tear. Pavement cracks are a sign of deterioration. Fortunately, you can easily and effectively rectify this issue before your Bay Area parking lot or roadway reduces to rubble. Learn why your asphalt cracks and how to prevent it with these tips for a lasting pavement investment.

Top Reasons Your Asphalt Cracks

Our commercial pavement maintenance team helps business owners battle many enemies of asphalt, including these leading causes of cracks:

Improper maintenance

Overlooking signs of surface wear and neglecting sealcoating maintenance is a leading cause of cracks.

Old age

Asphalt loses its elasticity over time, becoming more brittle and prone to cracking. Forgetting to sealcoat worsens the situation. Years of traffic take their toll, creating a rough, dry, uneven surface.

Poor drainage

Inadequate drainage leaves asphalt vulnerable to its top enemy – water. Seepage into surface flaws causes cracks to widen and worsen. Potholes develop and increase water infiltration, eroding your pavement’s foundation and shortening its lifespan.

Heavy traffic

High-traffic scenarios accelerate erosion, causing small cracks that can expose asphalt surfaces to UV and water damage without proper care. Heavy vehicles may also cause structural fatigue, damaging sublayers without appropriate reinforcement.

How to Prevent Common Causes of Asphalt Cracking

Safeguard your paving investment and avoid untimely asphalt removal and replacement with:

Proper asphalt design and construction

Invest in high-quality asphalt with sufficient thickness for your paving project, considering traffic capacity and types of vehicles, such as heavy-duty equipment, to prevent asphalt cracking. American Asphalt’s experienced paving contractors ensure proper sublayer prep and application, including an industry-leading 3-year warranty on new asphalt installations.

Adequate drainage

Proper drainage is critical to preventing premature pavement failure. Our asphalt installation and maintenance team can help you address and eliminate puddling issues by integrating sloped grading, curbing, and gutter installation, as well as French and trench drains, catch basins, swales, and under-drainage systems, to prolong your asphalt’s lifespan.

Regular asphalt cleaning

Dirt, leaves, and chemicals that accumulate can accelerate pavement deterioration. Regularly clearing debris from and washing your asphalt is one of the easiest ways to prevent cracking, providing a clean surface that also helps you identify and address issues early.

Routine sealcoating

Asphalt sealcoating every 2-3 years is a crucial step in preventing cracking. It provides essential protection against mechanical and environmental stress, including water, dirt, chemicals, sunlight, and oxidation, dramatically improving the appearance and lifespan of pavement.

Timely asphalt patching and repair

Scheduling a routine pavement inspection every two years or when performing sealcoating services ensures cracks are addressed before they can lead to worsening damage.

Protect Your Paving Investment with Preventive Care

Save time and money by keeping your pavement in top shape. Learn why your asphalt cracks and how to prevent it with help from American Asphalt. Contact us at 510-723-0280 to schedule a pavement evaluation today.