Tips to Address Common Pavement Issues in Salt Lake City

What Causes Pavement Issues in Salt Lake City?

In addition to wear and tear, there are three common causes of pavement issues:

1. Climate

In Salt Lake City, varying temperatures create a freeze-and-thaw process that puts pressure on paved surfaces. Above-freezing temperatures allow rainwater or snowmelt to penetrate tiny cracks in the pavement, and when the temperature drops below freezing, the water freezes and expands, causing larger cracks to form. As this process repeats itself, over time, the cracks continue to expand. Once the ice thaws, the new, larger cracks make it easier for water to penetrate deeper, eventually causing potholes. Sealcoating your parking lot in the summer and repairing cracks as they occur helps prevent serious damage.

2. Inadequate Drainage

Inadequate drainage allows water to pool on your parking lot surface. When standing water is left on the pavement, it damages the surface coating. As a result, water can eventually seep down into your parking lot subgrade/foundation. This leads to hidden structural issues, which aren’t apparent until your pavement starts to crack, warp, and buckle. If you spot pooling water, contact a paving contractor to assess the issue right away to address the underlying issue.

3. Poor Installation

Poor installation starts with a poorly laid gravel subgrade. Without a solid base, the weight and pressure of traffic cause the pavement to buckle. Another issue is insufficient asphalt thickness. This weakens the pavement, leading to dips, cracks, and potholes that eventually cause the sub-base to fail. Poor repair work can also cause issues when the new asphalt isn’t properly amalgamated with the existing asphalt. This causes transition issues that allow for seepage that can pull the transitions apart.

What are Common Pavement Issues in Salt Lake City?

Here are the common pavement issues that impact your Salt Lake City business parking lot:

• Cracking: As mentioned, the freeze-thaw cycle causes cracks in the pavement that vary in severity from tiny cracks to major issues like alligator cracking, edge cracking and longitudinal cracks.
• Depressions: Depressions are sinkholes caused by weakening structures beneath the asphalt.
• Potholes: Potholes form when an entire chunk of asphalt breaks apart due to the freeze-thaw cycle, revealing the surface below.
• Raveling: Raveling erodes the asphalt compound, making the surface uneven and loose.
• Upheaval: When the sub-level of the asphalt freezes, it can push upward, breaking the asphalt surface.
• Line fading: Line fading is not only an eye sore but can also pose compliance and safety issues.

How to Address Salt Lake City Pavement Issues

Here are asphalt repair solutions to address common Salt Lake City pavement issues:

• Crack sealing: Sealants can be used on minor block cracks, edge cracks and small longitudinal cracks. However, once the cracks are sealed it’s best to seal coat the entire surface to prevent further cracks from forming.
• Asphalt repairs: In the case of more serious damage, such as severe block cracks and longer longitudinal cracks, the damaged asphalt should be removed and replaced using infrared asphalt repair methods.
• Repacking and repaving: Severe damage such as alligator cracking, edge cracks and asphalt upheaval require the removal of the damaged area, repacking the foundation and then repaving. If you attempt to use minor repair methods, you won’t fix the weakness in the foundation, which will lead to deep depressions or recurring damage.
• Infrared asphalt repair: Potholes can be repaired using infrared asphalt repair which heats the asphalt around the problem spot, builds up the pothole with new asphalt, and then melds the two surfaces together to create a watertight seal. This method can also be used for raveling if the base is not damaged.
• Parking lot line restriping: Regular parking lot line restriping every two years or so will ensure your parking lines and other markings, such as accessible parking spaces and no parking zones, are clearly defined
• Hiring professional pavement contractors: Preventative measures are the best way to avoid common pavement issues. EverLine SLC will provide a comprehensive maintenance plan to address small cracks and make asphalt repairs before the damage becomes serious. They can also recommend treatments such as sealcoating to protect your asphalt and create a parking lot line restriping schedule to avoid line fading.

The EverLine Coatings and Services asphalt repair team is ready to help you fix your parking lot and keep it in better condition for the long term. Contact us today.