It’s hot in Georgia. Just about anywhere you go in the Peach State, you’re likely to run into sweltering heat and sticky humidity. Summer temperatures regularly reach the nineties, and in 2018 Georgia reached its second hottest day in history.
Combine Georgia’s record-breaking heat with Atlanta’s annual accumulation of rainfall, and you have the ingredients for an asphalt disaster. Rose Paving is the premium paving contractor in Atlanta, and our goal is to defend your asphalt from the effects of Atlanta’s extreme temperatures and rainy season.
Rain and Wet Weather’s Effect on Asphalt
Moisture is one of the worst problems that can befall any structural project. Asphalt absorbs moisture; the longer water sits on an asphalt surface, the more is absorbed, and the more damage is done to your driveway, parking lot or other critical pavement surfaces.
Since water and moisture are so damaging to asphalt, most asphalt surfaces are engineered to sweep away water to sewers and catch basins, but no material can withstand persistent moisture forever. Thankfully, with regular maintenance and some expert advice from Rose Paving, you can keep your asphalt strong and looking like new for as long as you own the property.
Hot Weather’s Effect on Asphalt
Persistent high temperatures cause the surface of your asphalt to heat up faster than the lower portions, which can cause cracking, fading, stress fractures, and soft spots.
Atlanta is sunny and hot, which means your asphalt is susceptible to the effects and fluctuations of extreme heat. These temperature fluctuations cause the rigid asphalt slab to curl, leading to stress fractures along the surface and tensile stresses in the bottom portion of the slab.
UV rays are also incredibly damaging to your asphalt. UV rays increase the rate of asphalt surface deterioration, like soft spots and small waves across the surface.
UV rays and daily use can also weaken the components in the asphalt structure, causing the rich black color of new asphalt to fade to a dull gray. The best way to protect your asphalt from high heat and UV rays is by sealcoating cracks as soon as possible and with regular preventive maintenance.
Maintenance Tips Preventive Erosion & Damage
From moisture and heat to UV rays and regular ware, your asphalt feels the effects of Atlanta’s extreme weather and regular use. Therefore it is essential to the life and health of your asphalt to perform regular preventive maintenance.
Cracksealing
Cracksealing is the first line of defense against pavement deterioration. Cracksealing increases the lifespan of your pavement by preventing the accumulation of water and debris within the cracks in your asphalt surface.
Sealcoating
Not to be confused with cracksealing, sealcoating provides resistance to oil and gas spills and halts the spread of stress fractures, thereby improving the aesthetics of the asphalt surface and prolonging the life of the entire asphalt structure.
Storm Basin Repair
Storm basins are engineered to collect water from the asphalt surface. If a storm basin is cracked, sunken, or installed incorrectly, water can drain onto your asphalt or even flood your entire street.
Heavy rain can also shift the soft earth surrounding a storm basin, so it’s relatively common for storm basins to need adjustment. Just before rainy season is the best time to check your storm basin for cracks and damage.
If you notice cracks in your storm basin or water accumulation in places it shouldn’t be, it’s time to call Rose Paving. Call us right away. Storm flooding is severe enough, but it’s worse without a functioning storm basin.
Defend Your Asphalt from Atlanta’s Extreme Weather
Rose Paving is the premium paving contractor in Atlanta and your best choice to defend your asphalt against the assault of Georgia’s extreme weather.
From large corporate projects to essential maintenance and repair, we offer only the highest quality custom paving solutions to clients all over the Atlanta metro area.
Our professional salespeople and expert technical staff are on call and ready to tackle your paving projects and provide you with a seamless client experience. For more tips on repairing asphalt damage from Atlanta’s heat and humidity contact Rose Paving today.
Terry Smith is the Chief Operating Officer at Rose Paving and a seasoned expert in the paving industry. With decades of hands-on experience, he leads operations with a focus on quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
