Every building with a driveway or parking lot must look after its asphalt. Poured correctly and well-maintained, asphalt pavement can last for nearly 20 years. However, it still requires steady maintenance over time. A driveway should be resealed about every 3 years and often, asphalt driveway cracks develop and need to be repaired more frequently than that.
If your driveway cracks, that crack is likely to spread over time unless you fill it. Cracks grow because the stressors that caused the original crack continue to press on the pavement.
In many cases, moisture that gets into the now-unsealed pavement then expands when it freezes or evaporates, pushing the pavement further apart.
Repair Cracks
Cracks and holes on your driveway should be repaired as soon as possible. That’s because if they’re left unattended, water can seep into your driveway and damage the layers underneath the asphalt.
Clean Your Driveway
This may seem like a no-brainer, but cleaning your driveway at least once a week can extend your asphalt driveway’s lifespan. Dirt and other contaminants can degrade asphalt, which is why it’s important to keep the asphalt surface clean at all times. Otherwise, vegetation and mold might start to grow in cracks or on the asphalt surface. While mold can’t eat away inorganic substances, such as asphalt, it can crawl into cracks on the driveway and widen them, exacerbating pre-existing damage.
Avoid Parking in the Same Spot
If you frequently have friends and family over for dinner, you might want to gently remind them not to park in the same spot, especially in summer. High temperatures can soften asphalt surfaces, which may start to sink under the weight of vehicles over time.