Five Facts You Should Know About Asphalt

Five Facts You Should Know About Asphalt

Five Facts You Should Know About Asphalt

Driveways, sidewalks, parking lots, roads, patios, and many more surfaces are paved using asphalt.  Whenever you are considering whether to use an asphalt or concrete paving service, you should familiarize yourself with the qualities of these two materials.  As a company that specialized in asphalt repairs in Orlando, we can assist you with any of your paving needs.  There are a few facts you should know about asphalt.

Porous Asphalt Drains Well

Even though parking lots and driveways are designed with drainage in mind, porous asphalt can actually help drainage as well.  When it rains in Florida, you don't want to see rain pooled on your hardscapes in the following days.  Drainage is important to keeping your roads safe after it rains, and porous asphalt can help by absorbing this precipitation.   This helps prevent damage and flooding from occurring.

There Are Multiple Types of Asphalt Cracks

Whenever we come out for asphalt repairs in Orlando, we can easily recognize the types of cracks that have occurred.  This helps us to find solutions to repair or replace the asphalt properly.  The many types of cracks that can occur in asphalt include alligator cracking, transverse cracking, edge cracking, and more.  These are often determined by their shape, size, and design.  Often times, these cracks can be easily filled and repaired.

Grass Can Grow Through Asphalt

Many paving companies design driveways, roads, and parking lots with compacted asphalt that does not allow air to pass through.  However, asphalt typically has air voids in it that allow elements like weeds and grass to grow through it.  If this occurs in your asphalt surface, you can treat these with weed or grass killer to remove the eyesore.

Asphalt Was the First Choice for Road Paving

When the first American road was paved, they used asphalt.  This road was right outside the City Hall in Newark, New Jersey.  After the success of this first road, the next asphalt road was the famous Pennsylvania Avenue.  This road paved the way for the president to reach the White House each and every day.

Asphalt Naturally Occurs in Lakes

Many people are unaware that asphalt is naturally occurring in lakes.  In fact, Pitch Lake in the Caribbean is the lake with the largest volume of asphalt.  It contains over ten million tons of asphalt.  This fact is the most surprising for people learning about asphalt.

These are a few facts about asphalt that can come in handy when you are deciding what type of driveway or parking lot you want.  The type of hardscape you use in your yard or business property can help determine the amount of repairs, replacements, and maintenance you will need over its lifetime.  If you are looking for quality asphalt repairs in Orlando, contact us today to schedule an appointment.