Straight Edge Contractors

Mar 12, 2021
Read This If You Want To Avoid A Pavement Disaster

Like other parts of your property, the pavement too has a limited lifespan. Improper installation methods and lack of frequent maintenance reduce the service years of your pavement, leading to a premature failure. A pavement disaster can be gradual or sudden, depending on the installation process and daily wear and tear. While sudden pavement failure is shocking for property owners, it can also increase the likelihood of sinkholes or other significant structural problems. 

Regardless of how a pavement disaster occurs, your goal should be to avoid it at all costs. Replacing or repairing a pavement can be frustrating and costly. However, improper installation or lack of knowledge about the appropriate asphalt maintenance measures can lead to problems that leave you scratching your head in disbelief.

To help you avoid a pavement disaster, we’ve compiled a list of factors you need to be mindful of when installing an asphalt pavement.

Poor Soil

Even the best-designed and properly installed pavement will fail if the soil doesn’t meet the structural requirements. Therefore, you must be vigilant of the soil when starting a pavement project.

Structural problems in the soil, such as high-water content, can reduce its efficiency, resulting in pavement failure. A thorough inspection by experienced professionals before starting the project is the best way to prevent this problem. You can extend the lifespan of your pavement by installing drains that keep the soil dry.

Poor Design

Anybody can predict the consequences of inferior installation methods. Extreme cost-cutting measures alter your pavement’s design, causing the contractors to lay the wrong base course. The base course helps to dissipate the load; installing the wrong course causes erosion, resulting in cracks and the pavement’s deterioration.

For example, if the initial design requires five inches of base course, and the contractor installs only two inches due to a low budget, the traffic weight won’t dissipate properly, resulting in pavement failure. As a result, you will have to install layers of asphalt to cover up the missing base layers.

Local Void

Unlike other pavement issues, a localized void is very difficult to fix. This is when there is a hole in the ground. Localized voids spread quickly and make the entire pavement look as if it is standing on a sinkhole.

The problem of a localized void can either be traced to inadequate installation procedures or underground sewage pipes. A breach in the pipe causes a leakage that erodes the pavement’s soil, causing a hole to develop.

When starting an asphalt paving project in Las Cruces, NM, you must keep the above variables in mind. Professional contractors like Straight Edge Contractors LLC carry out a proper inspection before beginning an installation project in order to prevent disasters. Our experienced and well-skilled paving contractors deliver nothing but the best results. Connect with us today!