Why asphalt cracks and fails
Asphalt almost never fails because of the asphalt. It fails because of the base and the water. On our clay, water gets under the pavement, the soil swells and the surface cracks from below.
Sun, water and a weak base are the three biggest enemies of asphalt. Each one attacks the pavement in a different way, and together they turn small cracks into expensive potholes.
“Asphalt almost never fails because of the asphalt. It fails because of the base and the water.”
North Bay Grading and PavingSonoma County
Water is the enemy
When the grade sends water the wrong way or the base does not drain, water sits under the pavement. It softens the base, and on clay it makes the soil swell and push up. The surface cracks to match. A lot that puddles is an early warning that the grade was wrong.
What the cracks tell you
A single crack lets water in and grows into a pothole. Cracking that spreads like dried mud means the base gave out, and a surface patch will not fix it. Dips and sinking mean the ground was not packed enough. The common thread is the ground, which is why we fix it at the base.
- Water causes most failure
- Mud-pattern cracks mean base failure
- The fix starts in the ground
Asphalt that is sealed, drained and maintained can last 20 years or more. Catching problems early is the difference between a quick fix and a full rebuild.
