Stutz Driveway Sealing and Repair

"Mr. [member name removed]: Please see the info below concerning cracks in asphalt. Please call if I can answer any other question for you. -Jim 268-9990 Why does asphalt develop cracks? All asphalt driveways eventually crack. Most will show some signs of cracking after just a few years. There are several causes for cracks in asphalt driveways, the most common of which are the following: (1) Shrinkage. Asphalt shrinks as it ages. As asphalt pavement gradually contracts over time, cracks develop (similar to a mud puddle drying out and cracking in the sun, except that asphalt takes several years to shrink and crack, while a mud puddle might dry out and start cracking in just a few hours or days); (2) Heavy vehicular traffic; (3) A settling or shifting base beneath the driveway; (4) Tree roots. Asphalt cracks: Is there a cure? No. Cracks in asphalt can and should be regularly treated, but they can never be permanently eliminated. Regardless of how cracks were originally caused, and regardless of the technique used to fill them, they will inevitably recrack along the same line and require refilling from time to time. What good does it do to fill cracks if they’re just going to come back again? Regular crackfilling benefits a driveway by preventing grass and weeds from growing through cracks, and by slowing down erosion under the driveway by limiting the amount of water that runs through and under the surface. Also, an untreated cracked driveway can become unsightly in a hurry. Regularly filling cracks and sealing the driveway will keep up its appearance."