After several years of weathering and/or neglect, pavement will deteriorate. For property owners, pot holes and uneven pavement can be a major liability. For this reason, it is important that such pavement defects be taken care of before they become a danger. All of these issues are best handled with the removal of the damaged area and replacement patching with new materials.
Potholes
Potholes occur when water seeps into pavement through unsealed or improperly sealed cracks. Water expands when it freezes, breaking up the pavement. When the ice melts, the weakened pavement cannot support the weight of traffic, and pieces of pavement get broken away, leaving behind a hole. Potholes can be temporarily repaired with cold mix, but the best solution is to install a new compacted base course, followed by a new layer of asphalt.
Uneven Concrete Panels
Concrete surfaces such as sidewalks and patios may become uneven for one of two reasons:
1. The concrete pavement has sunk due to unstable base material.
2. The concrete pavement has been pushed up by tree roots.
There are a few options when this happens. The first is to grind down the pavement to create a flat, properly graded surface. This will not address the root of the problem and should not be considered a long term fix. The most favorable solution is to remove the damaged panels (along with any tree roots that have caused the damage) and replace them with new, compacted layers of base course and concrete.
Minnesota Roadways has been the trusted company for commercial asphalt maintenance in the Twin Cities and surrounding area since 1953. If you find yourself with the above mentioned problems, call us today at 952-496-2651.
