When it comes to your asphalt surfaces it is crucial to understand the effects of seasonal changes on asphalt surfaces. Asphalt is a natural product and reacts differently with various weather conditions, which can cause damage to the surface and lead to expensive repairs. Because of this, knowing how your asphalt reacts to these temperature and weather changes throughout each season is vital in ensuring it is always in the best condition. In this blog post, we will discuss the different ways in which weather effects your asphalt’s performance and how it may be necessary for you to adjust or replace some of your asphalt surfaces during certain times of the year.
The Effects of Seasonal Changes on Asphalt
The temperature changes and other weather conditions that happen during different seasons have a huge impact on your asphalt. How your pavement reacts to the heat that comes with summer causes much different changes than the cold that comes with winter. Here is a deeper look at the effects of seasonal changes on asphalt.
Spring and the Effects of Seasonal Changes Asphalt
The spring is a time of thawing and melting, which can cause the asphalt to weaken as water seeps into any cracks or holes. This process causes your pavement to become less durable during this time and may lead it to break down faster than usual if not properly taken care of. In addition to this, as the asphalt heats up during spring it can cause potholes to form on your pavement surface.
Potholes are a common issue that many homeowners face when dealing with asphalt surfaces and are caused by several things. When water seeps into cracks in the blacktop, which causes them to expand slightly over time leading them to become larger, it is the perfect condition for potholes to form. In addition to this, when the asphalt heats up during spring and summer it can cause any existing cracks or holes in your pavement surface to grow larger allowing for more water damage that will eventually lead to a pothole forming on your driveway or sidewalk. It is because of this it is important to take into account the effects of seasonal changes on asphalt.
Summer and Effects of Seasonal Changes on Asphalt
As the weather heats up asphalt begins to expand. This is because as it gets warmer, asphalt absorbs more heat and becomes increasingly soft and malleable. When this expansion occurs, small cracks can appear on your surface that may be hard to notice at first. As the temperature continues to rise, these cracks will become larger and more noticeable until they eventually lead to potholes in your asphalt surfaces. When it comes to the effect of seasonal changes on asphalt, this is a common problem that many homeowners face. Simply because during the summer months pavement temperatures can reach up to 175 degrees Fahrenheit on hot days which causes significant damage to their outdoor surfaces.
In addition, the high temperatures can cause moisture to rise from the ground, which often leads to a condition known as “pavement heaving” or bubbling. This occurs when sections of your asphalt are forced upwards under the heat and pressure of the surface above it.
Fall and the Effects of Seasonal Changes on Asphalt
The fall is a time of dryness, which can cause your asphalt to become extremely brittle as it cools down during the colder months. These cold temperatures combined with low moisture levels make for the perfect conditions that will eventually lead to cracks in your blacktop pavement surface. Thus causing these cracks to begin to form when you least expect them if not properly taken care of.
If you do not take the proper steps to ensure your asphalt is prepared for fall, it can cause serious damage that will need to be fixed as soon as possible before any cracks grow larger and lead to potholes or even more structural damage. This is a huge part of why it is important to understand the effects of seasonal changes on asphalt surfaces.
Winter and the Effects of Seasonal Changes on Asphalt
When winter hits, there are several things that can effect your asphalt’s performance. During the winter months, it is important to remember not to use de-icing salt on your surfaces as this can cause considerable damage. While using ice melt may seem like a better option than salt, you should be aware of its corrosive properties and how it effects both concrete and asphalt materials over time.
In addition to this, during the winter months, it is crucial that you remove snow and ice from your asphalt surfaces as soon as possible. If left on for too long, the build-up of snow can lead to a condition known as “snow jacking” or “frost heaving”. This occurs when moisture in the air freezes and then thaws over time. This causes the ground to expand which can lead to serious damage to your pavement’s surface and is a huge component of winter and the effects of seasonal changes on asphalt
During the winter your pavement surface will undergo a process known as “freeze-thawing” which occurs when frozen water penetrates cracks in your asphalt. This can cause significant damage to paths, driveways, and sidewalks if not taken care of completely before temperatures begin to drop. After roads are plowed for ice or snow, water penetrates the cracks and holes in your asphalt surface.
Another thing to take into consideration is that when temperatures drop below freezing this leads to ice forming on top of any potholes that have formed as well as other weak points along your pavement. This can cause even more damage than normal due to the weight from above combined with the expansion and contraction caused by changing temperatures throughout the day.
Over time, this process leads to more cracks in your asphalt surface that can be easily spotted by the naked eye as well as on a LIDAR machine if you own one of these devices for surveying purposes. After roads are plowed during winter months potholes and other issues with pavement surfaces are very common due to the conditions described above.
Combating the Effects of Seasonal Changes on Asphalt Surfaces
Seasonal changes can have a huge impact on asphalt surfaces. Understanding how your pavement is effected during each season will help you to take better care of it, prolong its life, and avoid damage that would be costly in both time and money. In addition to this, by applying preventative maintenance techniques you can ensure your asphalt surfaces are prepared for the winter months and will not be effected by these changes.
Our team at Sealcoating 2.0 is here to help you with all of your asphalt-related needs year-round! Contact us today for more information about our services and how we can help you combat the effects of seasonal changes on asphalt surfaces around your home or commercial business!