2 Elements That Break Down Asphalt in front of your Restaurant
While construction traffic and detours may be annoying in the immediate, driving on a smooth, newly paved and sealed road is an incredible feeling. You don’t have to worry about a blowout from falling in a pothole or moving up and down in your seat because the road is so bumpy. A good asphalt sealer Pittsburgh PA will leave you with a road you’ll try and take as soon as the offer presents itself. However, all good things don’t last, and even the best roads get weaker as time goes on. While age is a factor, there are some elements that also play a big role in breaking down asphalt faster.
- Sunlight
If you love driving on a sunny day and feeling the sun beat down through your windshield, the road beneath you is cringing. UV rays hurt roads because it oxidizes the chemicals in asphalt and causes it to turn gray and ultimately break down faster. If the sun constantly beats down on a certain part, over a long period of time, the road may end up in its old state of just gravel.
- Tree Roots
Some roads are built right next to trees and right through forests in some instances. The closer a road is to trees, the more susceptible it is too powerful roots taking over. Tree roots can grow very long, up to 70 feet away from their trunk. Therefore, if a root is strong enough and long enough, it can literally uproot asphalt from below. As the roots grow underneath and keep moving, the asphalt can shift, causing cracks and bumps in the road.
Fixing roadways is an expensive undertaking, and a lot of people never think it’s done soon enough. New roads are greatly appreciated, and old, worn-out ones are avoided by many. While aging is inevitable, some elements do speed up the process of turning the smoothest roads into the bumpiest trips.
