Asphalt pavements last more than a decade or a decade and a half. The material requires little maintenance, which explains why several people opt for asphalt for their sidewalks. Unfortunately, as soon as the asphalt is laid in your home or business premises, it gets exposed to conditions that start to degrade it. It would be great to understand some enemies of asphalt paving so that you know how to maintain it and extend its lifespan. While some factors that degrade asphalt paving are natural elements, you can take control over the other factors. Here are some common asphalt enemies.
Standing Water
If water, from a well, rain or sprinkler comes into contact with your asphalt surface and it sits for a long time, it damages it. Divots or cracks in asphalt create a place for standing water, and the water weakens your asphalt. Once the surface is weakened, it makes the cracks worse than before and encourages potholes. That is why you need asphalt resurfacing pittsburgh pa to repair cracks before they develop into potholes.
Oil Stains
Oil stains coming from parked vehicles can slowly degrade your asphalt paving. You should address any oil stains on an asphalt parking lot or paving as soon as they appear. The stains become saturated into the asphalt and get harder by the day, which makes them harder to remove and costly.
Tree Roots
Tree roots are strong and they often extend in search of water for growth. If you have a section of your asphalt next to a large tree, its roots are probably extending under it. When that happens, the roots shift your parking lot or pavement cracks.
The earlier you notice signs of damage on your asphalt, the better for you. You should hire a professional to resurface your asphalt when you see may damage. Also, make sure you maintain the asphalt to extend its lifespan.