Monday, May 5, 2014

Factors that Cause Deterioration of Pavements

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Parking lots in commercial establishments, like offices and retail stores, are exposed to heavy traffic on a daily basis. For this reason, property owners and managers have to keep an eye out on any sign of pavement deterioration like potholes and cracks which can obstruct daily operations. Sadly though, heavy traffic is not the only cause for pavements to deteriorate. Here are some other causes:

Extreme heat
Summer temperatures experienced in the East Coast states like New York and New Jersey may not be as bad as ones experienced in Western states like Nevada and Arkansas, but NJ property owners still have a lot to worry about when it comes to extreme heat. Triple-digit temperatures can cause asphalt paving to buckle, making them unpassable and unsafe for vehicles.

Extreme cold
If extreme heat is not good for pavements, so is extreme cold. Here, when the mercury dips low, a frost heave occurs which allows water to get under the pavement. When the water turns to ice, the pavement expands and thus tends to blow up, leading to cracks.

Improper maintenance

At times, the weather doesn’t pose any problems at all, but pavements still deteriorate. Possibly the biggest reason? Improper maintenance. To prevent pavement damage due to improper maintenance, property owners should draw up regular cleaning and sealcoating plans with the help of professional paving contractors.

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