There are several issues that can arise when it comes to asphalt. While each of them poses their own set of problems, some of them are far worse than others. One asphalt problem we would like to mention today is asphalt raveling. Andersen Asphalt & Striping is here to talk about what raveling is as well as what you can be doing to avoid it in your parking lot.
What is Raveling in Asphalt Pavement?
Raveling is a term used to describe the process of disintegration of an asphalt surface. A road that has raveling will be rough, crumbly and exposed as the gravel, sand and rushed stone becomes dislodged. It will sound like you are eating on pop rocks as you drive or walk on the surface because of the deterioration that is taking place. It can lead to vehicle damage as your tires often flip the dislodged material up as you drive on it.
What Causes Asphalt Raveling
There are a few different reasons that asphalt raveling happens to a road or parking lot. Here are some of the most common causes for raveling.
– Age: When asphalt gets old, the binder also ages and as it does, it hardens.
– Traffic: If there is a large amount of heavy truck traffic, it can cause raveling to happen. This is just part of wear and tear when a surface has heavy loads on it repeatedly.
– Poor Aggregate Mix: If the asphalt mix doesn’t have the right balance of different sized rocks, it won’t pack well, and air gaps will occur. Sand is also a necessary component in asphalt to produce a solid packing structure. The balance between all the different components is calculated depending on the climate as well as the expected loads on the surface.
– Poor Compaction: If asphalt isn’t compacted properly, it won’t bond well with the binder. The right temperature needs to be used as well, which is 290 degrees Fahrenheit at least.
– Dust: Too much dust can cause problems as well. Dust will adhere to the binder and weaken the bonding.
– Moisture: Too much moisture is always a bad thing for asphalt. It causes the binder to be ineffective as it works to adhere to the aggregate.
How Do You Fix Asphalt Raveling?
The way that raveling is fixed depends on the severity of the raveling. For low severity damage, the raveling is removed, and the road is patched. If the raveling is more severe, the damage is removed, and an overlay is applied.
Asphalt Driveway, Parking Lot & Road Pavement Resurfacing, Replacement & More in Reno, Elko, Henderson, North LV, Paradise, Spring Valley, Sunrise Manor, Las Vegas, NV | State of Nevada
If you have a parking lot or road that has mild or severe raveling, it is important you fix it before the damage gets worse. You can rely on the pros at Andersen Asphalt & Striping to fix any raveling that you may have going on. We will make sure your road or parking lot is damage free. Call us today!
