Canada’s Harsh Winters Decimates Asphalt Pavement: Rose Paving can help

Rose Paving / June 16, 2019

Canadians don’t need anyone to tell them that their winters are harsh. By now the average Canadian qualifies as a cold weather expert; able to mitigate or avoid winter’s most damaging effects. What you might not know is just how much damage a Canadian winter inflicts on your asphalt, for example. Fortunately, Rose Paving is here to help.

How Does Canada’s Weather Affect Asphalt?

When it comes to inclement weather, Canada gets the “whole-shebang.” Toronto is far enough North to experience some of the harshest winter weather on the planet. It is also just far enough South to experience sweltering summers and near torrential rain in the spring.

Excesses in cold, heat and moisture are bad news for any physical structure, but they are especially damaging to asphalt pavement and concrete. In addition, damage sustained from inclement weather is not always obvious.

Effects of Cold & Moisture

Moisture from rain and melting snow seeps into the porous surface of your concrete or asphalt where it erodes the structural integrity of the slab. Moisture damage is only one side of the coin. The other side of the coin only becomes apparent when the temperature drops below freezing.

The moisture trapped inside the slab freezes and expands resulting in stress fractures and cracks in your beautiful pavement and/or concrete.

Effects of UV Rays

You don’t need to be high in the Canadian Rockies to feel the damaging effects of UV rays from the sun; your parking lot in suburban Vancouver is just as vulnerable as the highest parking lot in Denver.

UV rays increase the rate of surface deterioration, which can produce soft spots and small waves across your asphalt surface. When combined with the wear and tear of daily use, UV rays weaken the components that bind the asphalt together; fading your parking lot from a rich black color to a dull gray.

The best way to protect your asphalt from high heat and UV rays is by sealcoating cracks as soon as they occur and regular preventive maintenance.

How to Prevent and Repair Erosion & Damage

Whether it comes from rainfall, or melting snow, water damage will erode your asphalt with the surprising force and speed. Asphalt surfaces are engineered to sweep away water to sewers and catch basins; but few are designed to stand up to the sheer amount of water resulting from melting snow, and summer thunderstorms.

Building materials and techniques have improved over the years, but no material can withstand persistent moisture forever. Thankfully, a little preventative maintenance goes a long way to protecting your concrete and pavement from damage and costly repair.

Rose Paving is the premium paving contractor in Canada and your asphalt’s best defense against the damaging effects of UV rays, moisture and winter cold. We offer a range of preventative and repair services including:

Asphalt Patching and Repair – Removes deteriorated asphalt. The existing stone base is then compacted and a tack coat applied to the perimeter of the patch to guarantee proper bonding. Hot asphalt is then installed and compacted.

Sealcoating – Sealcoating provides a jet-black finish and protects against the damaging effects of ultraviolet rays.

Cracksealing – Increases the lifespan of your pavement by preventing water and debris from accumulating within the cracks of your asphalt surface.

Lot Marking – The life of a parking strip is approximately 2 years. Parking lot re-stripping replaces faded, cracked parking stripes and restores the visual aesthetic to your parking lot.

Concrete Maintenance – Removes and replaces damaged concrete and restores concrete structures to their top condition. Finds and repairs structural defects alleviating potential liabilities.

Catch Basin Repair – Repairs or removes cracked, sunken, or improperly installed a storm basin preventing drainage onto your asphalt or flooding of your street.

Infrared Asphalt Repair – Uses infrared light to heat a specific area of pavement, enabling quick removal of failed asphalt. Ideal for critical repairs, depressions, trip hazards, potholes, and rough surfaces in drive lanes.

Defend Your Asphalt from Harsh Winter Damage

The simple truth is: The longer you wait to protect your asphalt, the harder it is to repair it. Fortunately, Rose Paving is the premium paving contractor in Canada and your pavement’s best defense from harsh winter damage.

We’re here to prolong the life of your asphalt and defend it from the effects ofCanada’s extreme weather. From large corporate projects to basic maintenance, and repair, we offer only the highest quality custom paving solutions to clients all across Canada.

Our professional salespeople and expert technical staff are ready to tackle your paving projects, and provide you with a seamless client experience. Contact us today before Canada’s harsh winter decimates you pavement.