Fall is officially here, which means your asphalt driveway may start to encounter some problems. Rainfall, cracks, and bumps are all factors you need to take into consideration when it comes to re-paving your driveway.
Lack of Drainage
Many residents find that they have drainage problems at the foot of their driveways. This can cause problems not only for the driveway, but for the house as well. If the autumn rainwater is building up in the wrong place, it can get into the garage and basement of the house. It can also end up cracking the surface of the asphalt if left for too long.
Some other problems that can occur because of poor drainage are:
- Groundwater causing damage to the base and surface
- Black ice forming in the colder months
- Clogged or broken pipes underneath the driveway pooling at the foot of the driveway
The best step a homeowner should take for this problem would be to choose from certain types of drain installations (or repairs). There are many options for drain solutions to choose from, including curtain drains, trench drains, and dry well installation.
Crack Filling & Sealcoating
When preparing for autumn and the colder months, it is important to make sure any cracks get taken care of. Cracks can form at any moment and it is better to try to prevent them rather than waiting until it becomes dangerous for you and your family.
Here are some of the reasons as to why your driveway may have so many cracks and bumps:
- Heavy loads: The average family car weighs between 3,000 and 4,000 pounds. Now, for a surface to start cracking from a heavy load, the vehicle would have to be around 10,000 pounds. But if you have more than 1 car going in and out of your driveway daily, cracks might start to pop up more than you would expect.
- Sharp objects: Objects such as snow shovels, studded snow tires, lawn mowers, and other sharp objects can damage your driveway even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time. These objects can chip and crack the asphalt (or concrete) leading to cracks and uneven surfaces.
- Rainwater/melted snow: When rain/melted snow gets under the surface of the driveway, it expands once it freezes again. This causes cracks to form and makes preexisting cracks even bigger and more difficult to fix.
- Rooting plants: Plants that manage to grow underneath the driveway can cause preexisting cracks to become worse (and it’s unattractive).
Sealcoating is another tool that contractors use to extend the life of a driveway. It is a protective coating that is spread over the driveway after the cracks are filled. This can be applied to a brand-new driveway or an old one.
It is highly recommended that if you repair the cracks in your driveway, you also have the contractor apply a sealcoating to increase the longevity of your driveway. Not to mention it’s more attractive!
At Greenway Industries, we want to make sure your driveway is ready for the fall and winter months. It’s important to us that your driveway is free of cracks and pooling water, and our experienced professionals are here to help.
If you are looking to set up an appointment to start preparing for autumn or if you have any questions, give us a call: 203-544-4687