Asphalt driveways are some of the most versatile driveways you will encounter. These driveways are often durable enough to last around 25 or more years. Despite their versatility and durability, however, they are still subject to experiencing a number of different types of cracks that could spell disaster for it.
Asphalt Driveway Cracks and You
There are many different types of cracks that an asphalt driveway will often have to deal with. These cracks can easily cause a driveway’s lifespan to decrease. Either due to the crack itself or the aftermath of any subsequent damage that stems from the crack. So you need to make sure that you know how to identify these tell tale asphalt driveway cracks that can be a major issue.
Fatigue Cracks
One of the most common types of cracks that an asphalt driveway owner will encounter are fatigue cracks. More commonly known as alligator cracks, these types of cracks are caused by extreme stress on a driveway. The extreme stress can come from heavy objects like a vehicle, or heavy impacts.
Edge Cracks
Edge cracks is another type of crack that you should keep your eyes open for. Unlike fatigue cracks which can appear anywhere on your driveway, edge cracks only appear on the edges. These cracks are often caused by lack of maintenance or support along the edges of your driveway.
Block Cracks
Have you ever encountered a situation where a large square shaped crack appeared on your asphalt driveway? If you answered yes, then you might have just experienced block cracking. Block cracking happens when the asphalt expands and contracts and pulls itself to the center of the driveway.
Transverse Cracks
Another common type of crack that you will have to deal with during maintenance sessions are transverse cracks. These cracks are some of the easier cracks to prevent for one reason: they come from other cracks. These cracks only form from other cracks. So as long as you keep your driveway maintained and crack free, then you shouldn’t have to deal with transverse cracks.
Longitudinal Cracks
These types of cracks often extend from one side of your driveway to another. This makes them especially dangerous for your asphalt’s lifespan as it creates an open area for water to get into the entirety of your asphalt’s foundation. If you find a longitudinal crack on your asphalt, then you should ensure that you fix it as soon as possible.
Crescent Cracks
We’ve mentioned how fatigue cracks are caused by excessive force or weight being applied to your driveway. However, there is another type of crack that comes from prolonged deterioration. These cracks are called crescent cracks. This type of crack comes from vehicles driving over your driveway constantly. These usually only appear a few years before your asphalt driveway needs replacing.
Final Thoughts
Awareness is the first step to fixing a problem. And as long as you know the different types of cracks you’re going to need to deal with, then you should have no problems dealing with it in the future.