If you’ve ever driven over a pothole, then you know how unpleasant it is for the driver. Failure to fill them in once they appear guarantees that whoever drives over your pavement is in for a bad time. Because of this, it’s important that you do everything you can to address the problem that they pose. The first step to doing this is learning what causes potholes. Knowing where they come from means that you’ll have a better grasp of how to keep them from appearing.
How do Potholes Form?
When asking the question “what causes potholes?” you’re likely to get a response pertaining to water erosion. While it’s true that water can lead to potholes, it’s a lot more complicated than that.
When water pools in one spot, then it either has to evaporate or enter the ground. Once in the ground, the constant contraction and expansion that occurs when the water freezes are what causes potholes to form.
As the ice thaws over and over and the pavement’s driven on continually, the ground begins to weaken and deteriorate. Over time as the material breaks down from the constant pressure, a crater starts to form, which is where potholes come from.
How to Prevent Potholes?
There are a couple of things you should be doing to prevent potholes. One of these ways to preserve your pavement is to address cracks as they form. In order to prevent water from entering the ground and allowing it the chance to freeze, you’ll need to get rid of all of its access points. Filling in cracks as soon as they appear on your pavement is your best solution for potholes. You can either hire a company to come out and fill it for you or make it a DIY project.
You can also spray your pavement and give it a protective coating. Doing this creates an extra layer between the water and the surface of the ground. Depending on what material your pavement is made out of means that you’ll have to get different types of spray. For example, if you have asphalt, then you’ll want to get it sealcoated. Overall the best way to prevent potholes is to maintain your pavement and fix any new problems that arise ASAP!
Have More Questions?
You can count on Walt’s Paving to complete your residential or commercial paving project in an efficient and timely manner. We have over 40 years of experience paving asphalt driveways, making asphalt repairs, and seal coating asphalt. We are located in Osceola, IN, and service homeowners and businesses within 50 miles of Elkhart, IN. If you have any further questions regarding our services, do not hesitate to contact us today.
