If your parking lot is paved with asphalt, and has some cracks in it, you need to understand what is causing the cracks so that you can take the proper treatment steps. Here are the four primary types of cracks that may develop in your parking lot.
#1 Edge Cracks
Like the name implies, edge cracks develop around the edges of your parking lot. They generally start as very thin hairline cracks and then become wider as they age. They can spread inward from the edges of your parking lot.
Edge cracks generally develop for a one of three reasons. They develop when you don’t have enough support on the shoulder of your parking lot. They can also develop when you the drainage system around your parking lot is not set up correctly. Finally, they can develop due to excessive frost …show more content…
This generally happens because the traffic that area experiences is heavier than your parking lot was designed to handle. Many times, alligator cracks develop around truck loading areas.
To fix this problem, you need to not only patch your concrete, but design it to support heavier loads in the future.
#3 Reflective Cracks
Reflective cracks are generally long, straight cracks. These cracks develop where overlay has been placed on top of pavement that was already in poor conditions or was unprepared. The joints where the overlay was placed tend to pen over time, creaking cracks. This allows moisture to get into the cracks and can lead to further cracks and ultimately the failure of your cement.
If you have reflective cracks in your parking lot, you need to remove all the affected layers of asphalt and make sure that the new asphalt is properly installed.
The next time you see a crack develop in your parking lot, don’t just fill it in. Take the time to identify the type of crack and to figure out what is causing the crack. Knowing the cause of the crack will help you address the real
#1 Edge Cracks
Like the name implies, edge cracks develop around the edges of your parking lot. They generally start as very thin hairline cracks and then become wider as they age. They can spread inward from the edges of your parking lot.
Edge cracks generally develop for a one of three reasons. They develop when you don’t have enough support on the shoulder of your parking lot. They can also develop when you the drainage system around your parking lot is not set up correctly. Finally, they can develop due to excessive frost …show more content…
This generally happens because the traffic that area experiences is heavier than your parking lot was designed to handle. Many times, alligator cracks develop around truck loading areas.
To fix this problem, you need to not only patch your concrete, but design it to support heavier loads in the future.
#3 Reflective Cracks
Reflective cracks are generally long, straight cracks. These cracks develop where overlay has been placed on top of pavement that was already in poor conditions or was unprepared. The joints where the overlay was placed tend to pen over time, creaking cracks. This allows moisture to get into the cracks and can lead to further cracks and ultimately the failure of your cement.
If you have reflective cracks in your parking lot, you need to remove all the affected layers of asphalt and make sure that the new asphalt is properly installed.
The next time you see a crack develop in your parking lot, don’t just fill it in. Take the time to identify the type of crack and to figure out what is causing the crack. Knowing the cause of the crack will help you address the real