Asphalt Challenges In Scottsdale’s Desert Climate
Scottsdale is hot. The sun is intense. From day to night, the temperature can swing by 30°F or more.
Such is life in the desert.
All of these factors, and many more, can impact the ways asphalt paving must be installed, maintained, and repaired. In this article, we’re going to dive deeply into what asphalt repair issues you might run into in Scottsdale, when and how you can fix those problems yourself, and when to call us for more thorough repairs.
Heat-Related Asphalt Damage In Arizona
UV Deterioration & Oxidation
Asphalt pavement contains both asphalt (the binder) and aggregate (gravel, sand, and other crushed stone). When UV rays hit asphalt pavement, they penetrate through the surface and start a chemical reaction in the asphalt. This chemical reaction, known as oxidation, causes the asphalt to lose some flexibility and become brittle.
Here in Scottsdale, UV radiation can get pretty intense; that can lead to asphalt surfaces undergoing a breakdown.
The first sign of oxidation is that your asphalt will start turning gray instead of being black. As oxidation continues, you’ll see cracking and raveling, which we explain in greater detail below.
The best solution? Sealcoating. A sealcoat protects the surface of your asphalt from UV rays, preventing them from penetrating the pavement and causing problems.
Thermal Expansion Cracking
As temperatures rise and fall, asphalt (like many materials) expands and contracts. The more drastic the temperature fluctuation is, the more drastic the expansion and contraction – and here in Scottsdale, where 20°F+ temperature swings between day and night are common, the thermal cycle can wreak havoc on asphalt.
This havoc leads to thermal expansion cracking, caused by the strain of constant expansion and contraction. Small cracks can be handled with asphalt crack repair; something you can do yourself if you’re handy (we can help if you’re not). Larger cracks or surfaces with a lot of cracks should be repaired by professionals.
Cracking Issues Common In Scottsdale Asphalt
Alligator Cracking: Causes & Repair Solutions
Alligator cracking (sometimes called crocodile cracking) is a type of crack that looks a bit like the back of an alligator. They are caused by a number of different problems, including:
- Substrate or base failure
- Poor drainage (causing substrate or base failure)
- Stripping and raveling (aggregate dislodging from the asphalt)
These problems all stem from weakened asphalt or asphalt with poor support from the base; the consequence is potential structural failure. Alligator cracking is complex; repair should be left to the professionals, as the underlying problems that caused the cracking must be addressed and repaired.
Longitudinal & Block Cracking Fixes
Longitudinal cracking is typically caused by thermal expansion and contraction; it’s the type of cracking we discussed earlier. In many cases, you can repair small longitudinal cracks yourself.
Block cracking has similar causes, but while longitudinal cracking is typically caused by a combination of thermal fluctuations and traffic, block cracking is often caused by thermal fluctuations and age. In block cracking, cracks appear in large rectangular blocks.
Both block cracking and longitudinal cracking can be repaired with crack repair products in the early stages; as cracks grow bigger, it becomes a problem that should send you to professionals like us. We also highly recommend sealcoating after fixing cracks; it’s a process that restores the surface of your asphalt and seals the product used in the repairs. Sealcoating can help prevent cracking in the future.
Potholes And Depression Problems In Desert Conditions
In Scottsdale, we don’t seem to get heavy rains as much as we used to, but one thing still holds true here – when it rains, it pours. Asphalt can degrade in the desert heat for the reasons we’ve already discussed (UV rays and extreme heat); that causes small cracks that the deluge of water can rush into.
When that happens, those cracks get bigger, and the areas beneath the cracks – the base of the asphalt pavement – get weaker. After the storm, a car drives along, and the now weakened chunk of asphalt suddenly pops loose – you’ve got a pothole.
Depressions are somewhat similar to potholes in that they both wreak havoc on suspensions, but they develop in a different way. A depression is caused when extreme heat softens asphalt. Cars will drive over the asphalt repeatedly, and that can cause a circular dip that must be repaired.
With both potholes and depressions, we recommend professional repairs; they tend to be a bit more complicated to patch than cracks, and the last thing you want is a pothole or depression that opens back up again right after you repair it.
Raveling And Surface Deterioration From Extreme Heat
Raveling is something we’ve mentioned a number of times at this point; it’s what happens when asphalt loses its flexibility and no longer acts effectively as a binder, allowing aggregates like gravel to come loose. This process is accelerated here in Arizona thanks to abrasive sands being carried across the surface of asphalt by hot desert winds.
This process can lead to serious surface deterioration, and that means you’ll need repairs. The first step is to clear off the loose pieces of aggregate, then to apply asphalt to the affected areas. In very serious cases, total replacement might be required.
Drainage Issues During Scottsdale’s Monsoon Season
Monsoon season isn’t all bad – witnessing the power of a storm is awe-inspiring, and we have fond memories of putting on swim trunks and running around outside in a storm. For asphalt, unfortunately, monsoons are not fun; they can cause serious problems.
We’ve already covered how monsoons and heavy rains can lead to the formation of potholes, but things get much worse when there are drainage issues. When water cannot properly drain away from the pavement, it infiltrates deep within the base. The result? Alligator cracking. Potholes. Block cracking. The worst part is, these issues will keep coming back over and over again if the drainage issues aren’t dealt with.
When there are drainage issues that impact the structural integrity of your asphalt pavement, there is no two ways about it – you need to call an asphalt repair professional to solve the problem. With any luck, they’ll be able to resolve the drainage issue without having to entirely replace your asphalt pavement.
When To Call Professional Asphalt Contractors In Scottsdale
You can call a professional asphalt contractor any time you aren’t confident in your abilities to repair a problem. Most people can handle filling small cracks on their own, but you should definitely call a professional if:
- Cracks are over ⅓” wide
- Cracks are deep (you can see the base or gravel)
- You see alligator cracking
- You see edge cracking (chunks breaking off along the edges)
- There are potholes
- There are drainage issues
- You want sealcoating
- You are repairing a large area
Professionals can help you maintain the integrity of your asphalt surfaces for longer. Getting new asphalt paving isn’t inexpensive; where possible, repairs and maintenance are the best way to protect your investment.
Protecting Your Scottsdale Asphalt Investment
With decades of combined experience repairing and maintaining asphalt paving, the team at Infinity Paving can help you repair any problems that come up with your asphalt. We’re owned and operated right here in Arizona, so we know how our climate can affect asphalt in Scottsdale – and exactly what to do to:
- Fix the problem
- And make sure it doesn’t come up again
Asphalt paving is an investment. Protect your investment with the right repair and maintenance services. Choose Infinity Paving.