Michiana winters are very hard on your car, and your asphalt driveway takes a serious beating year after year. Between the heavy lake effect snow dumps from Lake Michigan and the endless cycle of freezing and thawing, asphalt driveways experience constant stress. If you want to keep that pavement from turning into a crumbling mess of potholes before its time, you have to stay ahead of the game with Asphalt Maintenance in South Bend.
Regular upkeep for a residential driveway takes a little consistency. Keep the surface clean by blowing off leaves and debris so moisture does not trap against the binder. If you see a puddle sitting in your wheel tracks for more than a day after a rainstorm in Near Northwest, you have a drainage issue that needs a closer look by Valley Asphalt Solutions.
Stopping Damage Before It Starts
Sealcoating is a strong line of defense against the elements. You do not need to do it every single year, but putting down a fresh coat of Sealcoating every two to three years keeps the UV rays from drying out the liquid asphalt binder. Once that binder dries out, the aggregate starts popping loose, and that is when the real deterioration begins.
Crack Filling is another chore you cannot afford to ignore. When water gets into small cracks and freezes, it expands with incredible force and rips those cracks wide open. Crack Filling on a warm Saturday in spring helps tackle those fissures before they turn into craters.
- Pull weeds growing along the edges immediately.
- Keep heavy commercial delivery trucks off residential sub-bases.
- Wash away oil or chemical spills before they eat into the surface.
Warning Signs That Mean Trouble
Spiderweb cracking, also known as alligator cracking, is a sure sign your sub-base has failed. When the foundation underneath gives way because of poor drainage or heavy loads, no amount of surface Sealcoating is going to save it. You will see sections sinking or shifting entirely, especially near the garage apron where water tends to pool.
If you see edge crumbling along the lawn line, that usually happens because cars drive too close to the unconfined edge. Once those chunks break off, the problem just spreads inward fast across the Asphalt Surface in South Bend.
When to Call the Pros
Some minor Crack Filling is fine for a weekend DIY project, but deep structural failures require heavy equipment and professional Hot Mix Asphalt. If your driveway looks like a puzzle of broken pieces or has dropped significantly near the foundation, it is time to bring in the crew from Valley Asphalt Solutions. Valley Asphalt Solutions has the right compaction gear and Hot Mix Asphalt to cut out the bad spots and patch them properly so they actually last through the next big freeze in South Bend.
Taking care of your pavement now saves you thousands of dollars down the road. A little attention each season goes a long way toward keeping your South Bend property looking sharp and solid, and Valley Asphalt Solutions is here for all your Asphalt Repair needs in South Bend.