Cracks on asphalt and concrete driveways are common things to see, especially if your driveway is more than 20 years old. However, if your driveway is new, it can be frustrating to see these cracks. After all, you paid good money for your driveway. Thankfully, there are actually some rational reasons as to why your driveway is showing cracks.
Poorly Installed Driveway Base
If your driveway base was not installed properly, this is a common cause of cracks in driveways. Contractors who install an improper base or subbase often use light materials, such as sand or dirt, to save money and time. However, if these materials are moistened, freeze-thaw cycles can cause the material to expand or contract, causing the driveway to crack in the process.
Tree Roots
If you have trees on your property, and you fail to manage their roots, they can cause tremendous pressure on your driveway, resulting in cracks in the asphalt or concrete when the material reaches its breaking point.
Using Salt to Melt Ice
On the other hand, if you live in an area that sees ice and snow during the winter season, the practice of using salt to melt ice is a popular thing to do. According to asphalt paving contractors, however, this is something that you shouldn’t do as the ice can be brutal to asphalt and concrete. While the salt speeds up the process of thawing the ice, the water can eventually seep directly into the paved surface, where it will refreeze and exert pressure on the driveway, resulting in cracks.
Excessive Weight
While both asphalt and concrete are strong materials, they aren’t completely invulnerable, and they do have a weight limit. So, while they can withstand a lot, anything over 10,000 pounds can cause a crack on your driveway, especially if it was poorly installed.
Want to add an asphalt or concrete driveway to your property? Simply turn to Bonness, your number one service provider for renovations and driveway construction projects. Give us a call at (239) 597-6221, or fill out our contact form to request a quote.