Effects of Hot Weather on Asphalt Driveways

Summer has arrived! That means temperatures are on the rise. And as the weather continues to heat up, you'll need to focus on preventative maintenance to keep your home looking great, especially your driveway.

After all, asphalt driveways experience a lot of wear and tear over the years. But you wonder what effects the summer heat has on your asphalt driveway.

Here we look at how hot weather can damage your driveway and what you can do to protect it. Keep reading to learn more.

What is Asphalt?

Let's start by talking about what an asphalt surface is made of. Asphalt is made of crushed stone and petroleum-based bitumen with various binders and fillers. Asphalt needs to be strong and durable enough to hold up over many years of use.

An asphalt surface is designed for vehicles of all shapes and sizes to drive on and gets exposed to every weather condition, including rain, snow, extreme cold, and extreme heat.

Composition Matters

The exact composition of an asphalt surface will significantly impact how it holds up in the heat. For example, the quality of stone will make a difference, along with the type of binder used in the mix. Bitumen is a sticky substance used to form a solid mass, and then a filler is used to fill in the gaps in the mixture being used to create the surface.

The problem with bitumens is when temperatures increase, the viscosity of bitumens makes the asphalt surface soft, which can be easily damaged.

It's also important to understand gaps in the surface allow humidity to seep in, which can weaken the surface when the humidity heats up.

The best strategy is to hire an experienced Toronto paving company to inspect your driveway and assess what asphalt repairs are needed to create a long-lasting surface for your family.

Oxidation

Oxidation is a chemical process that causes the chemical bonds in asphalt to break down. This occurs when UV radiation causes light oils in the mix to combine and become heavier. Then the weight of the molecules will eventually make the material bitter, resulting in cracking and crumbling.

That's why it's so important to call a  paving company to repair any damage as soon as you notice cracks forming in your driveway.

Protecting Asphalt Driveways From Summer Heat

If you're like most homeowners, you probably don't spend a lot of time thinking about your driveway. Fortunately, this guide helps you identify the signs which will help keep your asphalt driveways looking great during summer and the rest of the year.

Contact us to learn how we can help keep your driveway looking good as new. We have more than 40 years of experience providing asphalt and concrete paving services in Toronto and surrounding areas. We cater to residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and municipal clients.