The Differences in Asphalt Distress

Asphalt distress is an occurrence we experience every day. From pesky potholes to cracks in the street — the type of distress matters. To properly repair the issue you must first know what the exact problem is. So before you look to patch up your asphalt, watch out for these signs of distress:

Cracking

There are various types of cracks that can occur. To know how to repair it, you must first know the type of break. For example, fatigue cracking also called, alligator cracking, is a series of interconnected cracks that resemble the skin of an alligator. Edge cracking is longitude cracks you find a few feet from the pavement's outer edge. Edge cracks are usually due to a lack of support.  Crescent shaped cracks are called Slippage Cracks and are formed because of low asphalt mix strength or an inadequate bond between the pavement layers. Being able to identify the type of break will help you successfully fix the issue.  Other forms of cracking include:

• Block Cracking
• Longitudinal Cracking
• Transverse Cracking
• Reflection Cracking

Distortion

Distortion is caused by instability of an asphalt mix or weakness of a particular layer. Rutting, shoving, and swelling may also be present. If you are noticing a depression in the wheel path, ripples across pavement, depressions or upward movements and swelling — these are all signs of distortion and should be repaired. Another common issue is when distress occurs when the pavement is patched; it’s called patch failure.

Disintegration

In high traffic areas, asphalt can take a beating. Through time, the asphalt can disintegrate and break up into pieces. One of the most common forms of disintegration — pot holes!  Due to distress potholes often form from cracks or failed patches.  Poor mixtures and weak spots can also lead to potholes.

With over 50 years of experience, Roccie's Asphalt is the #1 paving contractor in Fairfield County CT and Westchester County NY.  With expertise in both residential and commercial, we can help with all your asphalt paving, repair, seal coating, and maintenance needs. Request an estimate or call us at 888-88-ROCCIES.