Understanding the Different Types of Asphalt Cracks: Causes and Solutions

Understanding the Different Types of Asphalt Cracks: Causes and Solutions

Asphalt is a durable and long-lasting material ideal for roads and commercial pavement. Of course, like any pavement, asphalt can crack under heavy use and challenging weather conditions. The key to the best pavement performance and lifespan is quickly identifying cracks and repairing them with the correct solutions. To do this, you must first recognize the different types of cracks, know their causes, and apply the optimal solution.

As asphalt experts, One Stop Asphalt will explain the different types of asphalt cracks, why they occur, and how to fix them.

Most Common Types of Asphalt Cracks

Alligator Cracks

Alligator cracks resemble alligator scales. They often form a depression in the pavement as a network of smaller cracks that look like a curved grid. Alligator cracks are very common in parking lots but can also be seen on roads with heavy traffic. Cracks that hold pools of water are at the greatest risk of becoming potholes.

Transverse Cracks

Transverse cracks run across your pavement, often at a right angle to the center line. They are most common in regions with cold winters and can become dangerously wide or sharp over time. Transverse cracks cause the signature “thump-thump” sound as a car rolls over them one set of wheels at a time.

Longitudinal Cracks

Longitudinal cracks are parallel to the center line. They run along the direction of pavement in line with the traffic flow. These most often occur when lanes are not laid evenly and as the result of shrinkage due to weather.

Block Cracks

Block cracks look like large rectangles. They are similar to alligator cracks, but each block is much larger and more squared off. Block cracks are not caused by high traffic but by installation flaws and/or weather conditions that cause the asphalt binder to contract or expand unevenly.

Causes of Asphalt Cracks

Knowing the causes of asphalt cracks can help you prevent them, minimize risk, and quickly repair cracks in areas where they are more prevalent.

Moisture and Pooling Water

Moisture is the enemy of pavement durability. Heavy rains, pooling water, and improper water flow management over your property can put pavement at risk. Standing water, in particular, can weaken pavement over time and make cracks more likely.

Aging and Oxidation

All pavement loses integrity as it ages. Older pavement will need to be resurfaced and repaired more often. Improperly sealed pavement also has a more rapid oxidation rate, allowing cracks to form more frequently.

Traffic Load and Weight

The total amount and weight of traffic over your pavement can cause wear and tear. Alligator cracks are the most likely to be caused by a high rate of traffic and heavy vehicles.

Climate and Temperature Fluctuations

Strong changes in temperature and humidity can put your pavement at risk. This is why regions that freeze and ice over in the winter often have rougher pavement. Winter freezes, heavy rains, and drastic changes in the weather can cause pavement to crack in lines or blocks.

Poor Construction Practices

Of course, installation quality matters. Poor pavement installation can make it more prone to cracking if the binder, thickness, or distribution is wrong for the location, purpose, and climate.

Improper Maintenance and Repair

Lastly, all pavement cracks over time, but good maintenance can prevent them from growing. Regular resealing, crack mending, and pavement repair are essential to prevent bad cracks in the future.

Solutions for Different Types of Asphalt Cracks

How are asphalt cracks repaired? Each type of asphalt crack is most responsive to a different type of repair.

Crack Sealing

Thin and shallow cracks can be resealed with a “hot-patch” asphalt repair method. New asphalt is laid over the cracks, allowing them to be filled and closed with the hot mixture. The top is then smoothed out, and the area is resealed.

The sealant is a flexible rubberized mixture that allows the pavement to move without cracking again. It protects from moisture intrusion but only works with small cracks.

Crack Filling

Deeper and broader cracks may need to be filled with asphalt emulsion, a molten patch, into cracks and potholes. This creates a new and durable asphalt surface that fills larger spaces and allows the top to be smoothed for a new surface.

Crack filling works well as a long-term repair and is then seal coated over the top.

Crack Patching

Another method for shallow cracks is crack patching. A patch of new asphalt is layered over the top of thin cracks. This method is often used for new alligator cracks before a depression or serious gaps in the pavement have formed. The patch fills all the tiny cracks and provides a new surface that can be sealed. However, this method does not work for a pavement whose surface has become rough or cracks that have widened.

Overlay or Resurfacing

Resurfacing is when a new asphalt surface is installed over rough and loose pavement. Rather than treating cracks, an overlay or resurfacing is a way to extend the lifespan of old pavement that has begun to lose its surface and shed aggregate.

Reconstruction or Replacement

If the pavement has accumulated too much damage – or the original installation was seriously flawed – the right repair is to reconstruct or entirely replace the asphalt. This involves pulling up the old pavement, rebuilding the subbase, and installing fresh new pavement with expert techniques designed to minimize the risk of cracks and separations in the future.

Contact One Stop Asphalt for Expert Asphalt Crack Solutions

Is your asphalt pavement showing cracks and other signs of damage? One Stop Asphalt can help. Our expert asphalt pavement teams can assess cracks and provide the best repair solutions to keep your pavement in the best condition for the longest lifespan. Contact us today to schedule an asphalt inspection and repair service.

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