Cracks in the asphalt spoil not only the appearance but also the performance. Therefore at their appearance, it is necessary to address at once in asphalt repair company and to begin their elimination, and not only consequences but also the primary cause. But first, it’s worth discovering why cracks are appearing and how to fix them. This will help to understand the experts of our company.
Types of cracks
To begin with, it is necessary to determine what kind of cracks there are. And here everything is quite simple, in particular:
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Longitudinal;
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Transverse.
They usually appear due to irregular loading. Additionally, their appearance is influenced by: an overabundance of air voids, improper preparation of the mixture, differences in temperature and humidity, etc.
Also, group cracks may be formed, which are woven into a cobweb. They are also called fatigue cracks. They arise when the coating ages and fails. Such a coating should be replaced rather than repaired.
Causes of cracks
The main factors can be distinguished:
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Weather conditions;
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The human factor.
And if nothing can be done with the first, but only to adapt to it and apply the proper compositions and technologies for protection, human errors can be avoided with the right approach.
What affects the occurrence of problems
Most of the problems, and as a consequence — the need for asphalt paving repairs, appears through the fault of the unprofessionalism of workers. Let’s highlight a few of the following points and causes:
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Excessive shrinkage. It can occur due to extreme loads still at the phase of road construction, which allowed the workers, as well as seasonal deformation. The first moment should be excluded entirely, and the second to prepare;
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Violation of the paving technology. This is the most common mistake. Paving is carried out in bad weather conditions, wrong preparation of the composition, the base, etc.;
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Ignorance of the peculiarities of the site. Here it is necessary to take into account the depth of frost penetration of the soil, the level of groundwater, etc.;
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Poor arrangement of the base;
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Subsidence of the soil;
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The use of several types of asphalt at the same time on one site;
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Poor jointing during patching;
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Exposure to trees that grow on the roadside;
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Loss of pavement elasticity if the binder is not correctly matched to climatic conditions.
All of these points need to be considered, monitored, and excluded completely. And to do this, paving should be performed by qualified professionals who do their work conscientiously.
Why is it essential to repair the pavement?
Repairs are a necessity. On the one hand, they do not interfere with transport and, at first, glance, do not affect the characteristics in any way. But over time, a small crack can grow, become more expansive, contribute to the appearance of potholes in the road, and generally lead to the global destruction of the asphalt surface.
The cracks themselves have a wide range of negative consequences, including:
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Moisture begins to accumulate in the pavement through the cracks, which contributes to its more rapid deterioration;
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During temperature changes, the accumulated water turns into ice and expands, thereby destroying the pavement;
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Also subjected to additional stress and negative impact and the underlying layer;
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In the absence of timely repair, it is destroyed.
Further, it will be impossible to repair and must be replaced entirely. Therefore, when cracks first appear, it is necessary to consult with a specialist, to identify the causes of their occurrence and eliminate them. Therefore, when the first signs of damage appear, it is essential to repair them immediately.
