Asphalt driveways are an excellent option for many homes and are durable and long-lasting if you maintain them properly. In some cases, damage can occur to the surface of your asphalt, which is not something you can not prevent in advance but requires an asphalt driveway repair contractor to fix the problem correctly.  

Potholes And Sinkholes

Damage that can affect the surface of your asphalt driveway may start under the surface where you can't see it. Water running through the soil that supports your asphalt can wash away in small amounts, allowing the soil and asphalt above to collapse, causing a pothole or sinkhole in the driveway. 

While these holes are often small to start, if they are neglected, they can grow and cause more damage over time. Hiring an asphalt driveway repair contractor to address the damage is often the best solution and may require replacing some of the asphalt if the repair requires work under the surface. 

If the material under the driveway is washed out, the contractor may need to tear up a section of the driveway, make the repairs, and replace the damaged asphalt with new material, then blend it into the existing surface.

If water runoff is a problem near the driveway, it may be a good idea to have drain tiles added before the new asphalt is installed. The asphalt driveway repair contractor will often not install drain tiles, but if they feel it is necessary, you can have a contractor do that work first, then have the asphalt repair completed after the drains are in place.  

Cracks And Sun Damage

If you live in an area that is hot and sunny most of the year, your asphalt can crack over the year. Sealing the cracks is crucial to keeping water from getting under the asphalt. 

An asphalt driveway repair contractor can seal the cracks in the surface with a crack sealer that will fill the gaps in the surface when heated. After sealing the cracks, the contractor may recommend adding a coat of asphalt sealer to the entire surface of the driveway to ensure there are no gaps that allow water to get through.

Seal coating before cracks start to appear can also be a preventative measure, and many asphalt paving companies recommend applying the sealer to the driveway once or twice a year, depending on the weather in your area.

Check with your asphalt driveway repair contractor about the best options for dealing with cracks in the surface that continue to appear over time. They may be able to resurface the driveway with better quality asphalt that is more durable and can better handle the weather or heat in the area you live. 

Contact a local asphalt driveway repair service to learn more.