For most Arizonians, spring means longer days, blooming perennials, baseball…and, let’s not forget, potholes. Potholes are, of course, not only unsightly, they’re also exceedingly unsafe for both drivers and pedestrians. In fact, according to the travel agency AAA’s most recent estimates, the damage done to vehicles from needlessly driving over them (or sometimes into them), is costing Americans $3 billion in damages annually. This makes it incredibly important for private and public property owners to repair potholes, also commonly referred to as chuckholes and kettles, as soon as possible.
What Causes the Formation of Potholes?
Add cracks, water, winter cold, and summer sun and voila you have potholes! Water gets underneath the pavement, expands when frozen, and contracts when it melts. The expansion weakens the asphalt, and the contraction leaves cracks behind, which eventually cause the pavement to collapse. The end result? Potholes which can sometimes seem to appear overnight – especially in poorly maintained areas.
The Best Pothole Repair Services
Asphalt Maintenance
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! The cost of addressing minor issues through a preventive asphalt maintenance program is much less than addressing major deficiencies, such as potholes. Asphalt maintenance should be performed by a professional asphalt paving and repair company when roadways and parking lots are still in good condition. These services include crack sealing which can potentially stop or delay the formation of potholes since water intrusion cannot occur.
Patching Potholes
Patching is the process of filling pothole or excavated areas in the asphalt pavement. Patching helps to control further deterioration and expensive repair of the pavement. Without timely patching, water can get underneath the pavement, causing further damage to occur. Several patching methods exist including: quick patching, full-depth or deep patching, surface patching, spray-injection patching, infrared heater patching, and cold weather emergency patching.
Extensive Pothole Repair
This project entails repaving a parking lot or roadway. Crews use a hot mix of asphalt to create a stable, permanent solution to an area prone to potholes. Proper compaction is key to ensuring a permanent repair. Crews commonly use medium to large-sized rollers depending on the size of the area in need of repair. A properly compacted area should be overfilled to ensure it is able to withstand the weight of vehicles driving on it day in and day out.
No comments yet.