Asphalt Potholes - they're everywhere
Posted by Jesse Willoughby on Tue, Feb 10, 2009 @ 06:33 PM
Potholes, bowl shaped openings that usually have raveled edges and can be up to 10 inches deep, are created
when moisture seeps into the pavement and contracts or expands, weakening the pavement; as traffic drives over
these weakened areas, it eventually crumbles and breaks away. Potholes often develop from badly cracked, or
alligatored, areas of pavement. If not repaired early on, these potholes will expand and could eventually affect the
pavement foundation.
Liability Issues
Potholes create serious liability issues in parking lot and roadway areas not only because of the potential damage
to vehicles but also because of the potential trip hazard to tenants, customers, employees and pedestrians.
Furthermore, repairing potholes before liability issues arise can avoid fraudulent and unreasonable injury
settlements. Potholes can form during any season and should be repaired immediately before worsening or
causing serious injury or other damage.
Remedy
The potholes formation means that moisture and air voids have already formed under the pavement surface,
allowing the pavement to weaken and become crumbled. This means that cutting and patching will be necessary
to repair the pothole area and the surrounding broken pavement by:
1. Cutting the area square beyond the damaged area - to ensure underlying problems that have not yet
surfaced are also corrected - with a jack hammer.
2. The broken asphalt is then excavated and the base is compact as necessary to prepare for new asphalt.
3. At least 1.5" of asphalt binder and 1.5" of asphalt topcoat are installed and compacted.
4. Edges are emulsified and sanded for proper bonding.
NOTE: Jack hammering is predominantly used because of the toothed effect on the pavement, where the newly installed sphalt fits with old asphalt in the most effective way. Saw cutting is also available upon request.