Why Potholes Are More Than Just a Nuisance

One of the top reasons why many commercial property owners call asphalt paving services is to repair potholes on their property. All drivers have at one point encountered these devilish nuisances. 

For property managers and owners, understanding the science behind the development of potholes may help to prevent them from forming in your parking lots and access roads. Below we explore how pothole repair services can improve the safety in your parking lot and increase the lifespan of your pavement. 

What Causes Potholes?

Potholes evolve mainly due to environmental factors such as fluctuating temperatures, heavy traffic, and even the powerful heat emitted from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. 

Potholes can form at any time of the year but are often more common during the springtime. This is because the sub-zero temperatures cause any moisture within the asphalt to freeze and expand. As the temperatures increase with the help of the sunlight, the melting liquid underneath the asphalt causes gaps to form. The weight of foot traffic and vehicle traffic over these gaps weakens the asphalt surface and a pothole appears from the collapse of the asphalt. 

It should be noted that parking lots that often have a high number of potholes may have a weak foundation base for the asphalt surface. This can be caused by poor construction of the initial foundation in the parking lot. The underlying surface, or base, of the asphalt needs to meet specific requirements to support the integrity of the asphalt itself. 

Why Are Potholes a Major Problem?

A pothole is more than just a depression or opening in the surface of an asphalt parking lot or road. It can cause serious injury to the vehicle’s occupants as well as render a vehicle unworthy of driving.

Potholes Are a Risk for Personal Injury

With a pothole(s), a parking lot can be an invitation for serious injuries to employees, clientele, and other visitors to your business. The hazard of stepping into a pothole can result in significant liability claims against the property owner. Even a small asphalt depression can cause someone to trip and possibly fall, causing a sprain or a broken bone. A driver may also be injured if their vehicle hits a larger pothole and/or causes an accident. 

Potholes Impact a Vehicle’s Internal System

Damage to a vehicle may also raise the risk of a liability claim as a pothole can cause significant damage to the internal system of a vehicle as well as bust a tire. A property owner may be liable for replacement of bent rims, flat tires, and repairs to the suspension system of a vehicle. Hitting a pothole at just the right sped and angle can destroy shocks, struts, and damage a vehicle’s chassis. 

Potholes Lead to Greater Damage to Your Parking Lot

A pothole can be detrimental to the structural components of a parking lot. Without immediate attention, a small pothole can lead to damage to the surrounding infrastructure of the area as well as damage the underlying foundation. As the asphalt weakens, any rainfall, snow, and vehicle fluids can be absorbed, thus weaking the pavement, and eventually requiring the entire area to be replaced rather than just repaired. 

What Can Be Done to Prevent Potholes from Forming?

We may not be able to change the temperature and weather, but we can be proactive when it comes to pothole development. A property should be regularly inspected for imposing cracks and holes. In addition, use of pavement crack sealing services can reduce the risk of potholes forming. By stopping water from penetrating the underlying surface of the asphalt, the foundation is protected from damage. 

What Are the Methods for Patching Potholes?

Various professional pavement services use different methods of pothole repair. With the ever-changing temperatures in Ontario, a reputable paving company may use one or a combination of the common repair methods. 

These include, but are not limited to, the Throw-and-Roll repair, the Full-Depth Roadway repair, the Semi-Permanent repair, or the Edge Seal repair method(s). 

Contact Sure-Seal Pavement Maintenance Inc. for Pothole Repair Services

If your property in Toronto or the GTA needs pothole repairs, have the team at Sure-Seal Pavement Maintenance Inc. inspect your parking lot. With our state-of-the-art equipment and knowledgeable technicians, we handle sunken surfaces, uneven pavement, large crack formations, and pothole repairs. Call us at 416-410-3705.