Key Takeaways:

1. Flowers can grow in unlikely places, even through cracks in asphalt pavement. When it happens, it’s time to take action.
2. Different types of cracks can form in asphalt pavement, and each type requires a different repair method.
3. It’s essential to regularly maintain your asphalt pavement to prevent cracks from forming in the first place. You can do this by cleaning your pavement regularly, sealcoating, filling cracks as soon as they appear, and repairing potholes immediately.

In addition to the never-ending list of day-to-day repair and maintenance tasks, homeowners often face big projects like repairing or replacing asphalt pavement. Flowers can grow in unlikely places, even through the cracks in asphalt pavement. Asphalt crack repair helps keep your pavement looking good and last longer. So don’t worry. Let Garden State Paving & Seal Coating, LLC help you take care of it!

Flowers Or Weeds Growing Through My Asphalt Pavement: Why?

In all the boroughs of New Jersey, as well as in Mt. Laurel parking lots, Moorestown streets, and Medford runways, you can find flowers and grass growing from cracks in concrete or asphalt. Seeds carried by wind or birds lodge in these tiny crevices with little dirt and capture rainwater.

When the ambitious plant produces its flower, it’s hard not to notice its yellow, red, blue, or white color against the grey concrete or black asphalt.

Though they may look nice, those flowers indicate that the pavement is starting to break down and needs repair. The water and roots will cause even more damage if not taken care of soon. Eventually, a full replacement will be necessary. You’ll need to contact an asphalt contractor in a few years to redo the entire pavement.

Types Of Asphalt Pavement Cracks

If you’ve cracks in your asphalt, it’s important to repair them as soon as possible to prevent any further costly damage. Here are some cracks that you should look out for.

1. Edge Cracking

Edge cracks are commonly seen running along the outermost edges of the pavement and often stretch for long lengths. These cracks develop due to dry and shrinking soil beneath the road, lack of proper drainage, overgrown vegetation near roadsides, and excessive vehicle traffic.

You can use an asphalt crack seal or an asphalt emulsion to fix edge cracks. While repairing these types of cracks, make sure to improve drainage and clear out any vegetation growing on the edges of the pavement.

2. Block Cracking

A few years after you pave your asphalt, you might start seeing cracks in the pavement. These usually come in squares or circles, meaning either the mixture used was old or too dry when your last contractor first laid it. The good news is that since these cracks don’t extend into any sub-layers, paving a thin overlay can seal them right up and help prevent more cracking in the future.

3. Linear and Transverse Cracking

Linear cracks, also referred to as longitudinal, develop along the joints of asphalt pavement. Professionals typically lay it down in strips or sections when constructing large surfaces with asphalt. Cracking will occur if these joints between sections are not installed correctly. Other causes for this cracking include shrinkage due to temperature changes and water damage seeping through surface-level cracks into sublayers below.

It is important to have good drainage around the property to keep water from leaking into the asphalt and ruining the foundation. You can fill the cracks with a homemade combination of asphalt and sand, or you could use the good old emulsion slurry.

4. Fatigue Cracking

Fatigue cracking, also called alligator cracking, is a series of small cracks in one area that look like an alligator’s skin. This cracking means there was a mistake in the design or installation of the asphalt surface, chronic excessive loads combined with significant temperature changes.

We recommend full-depth patches to fix this cracking, which affects every layer of asphalt from the surface to its stabilizing sub-layers. This will stop any future cracks from forming in the area and strengthen the existing surface.

5. Slippage Cracks

Slippage cracks resemble the asphalt sliding along the pavement’s surface. They have wrinkles and deep open gaps and happen when the top layer doesn’t adhere correctly to the layer below it, or too much sand is used in the asphalt mix.

Full or partial depth patches are required for slippage cracks, which depend on the severity of the crack and the amount of surface area that has slid.

How Can I Maintain My Asphalt Pavement

It’s essential to regularly maintain your asphalt pavement to prevent cracks from forming in the first place. Here are a few tips for proper asphalt pavement maintenance:

1. Clean your pavement regularly – Sweep or blow away any dirt, leaves, or debris accumulated on your pavement.
2. Sealcoating – This process involves applying a sealant layer to your asphalt pavement to protect it from the elements and prevent cracks from forming.
3. Fill cracks as soon as they appear – Cracks can quickly turn into potholes, so filling them as soon as they appear is important.
4. Repair potholes immediately – Potholes can cause severe damage to your asphalt pavement if left unrepaired.
5. Get regular professional maintenance – Schedule regular professional maintenance for your asphalt pavement to ensure it remains in nice condition for years to come.

Also Read: The Crack Filling Cure: What Does It Do For Your Asphalt Paving?

What Causes Asphalt Cracks

So, what causes cracks in asphalt pavements? There are several reasons:

1. Temperature changes – Asphalt pavement is vulnerable to temperature changes, which can cause the material to expand and contract. This expansion and contraction can cause cracks to form.
2. Weight of vehicles – The weight of vehicles passing over asphalt pavement can also cause cracks. This is especially true if heavy vehicles, such as trucks, regularly use the pavement.
3. Improper installation – If asphalt pavement is not installed correctly, it can also be susceptible to cracking. This is why hiring a professional contractor with experience installing asphalt pavement is important.
4. Drainage problems – If water doesn’t drain appropriately from asphalt pavement, it can seep into the cracks and cause them to widen. This can also lead to other asphalt problems, such as potholes.

Looking For Asphalt Crack Repair In Cherry Hill, NJ? Let Us Help!

Garden State Paving & Seal Coating, LLC is a professional asphalt paving company serving Cherry Hill, NJ, and the surrounding areas for many years. We specialize in asphalt paving, including installation, repair, and maintenance.

If you need asphalt crack repair, we can help. We use only the best materials and equipment for all of our projects, so you can rest assured that your asphalt repairs will be done right the first time. Get a quote.