If you own an asphalt driveway or parking lot, you may eventually have to deal with “alligatoring” or fatigue cracking. According to the team at Professional Asphalt Service in Long Lake, MN, this condition occurs when the pavement develops numerous cracks in a specific area, causing it to resemble the back of an alligator. This often indicates that there is a subgrade problem occurring. Below, these asphalt contractors will explain how you can take action once these cracks start to appear on your pavement.

Early on, when the cracks are still shallow, you can likely repair the damage by first applying a crack filler and then seal coating over the entire pavement. This will help protect the cracks from spreading and growing deeper.

As alligatoring is a key indicator that the underlying base was not made to withstand the types of structures above it, it is also a good idea to block off any affected areas from vehicles. If you don’t, each car or truck that drives over these weakened spots will further damage the area.

After so long, filling and blocking off the area will not be enough to save the asphalt. You’ll need to hire a professional asphalt contractor to investigate the problems that are happening under the asphalt’s base. They will then need to restructure and strengthen it so that it can withstand the type of daily traffic you expect to receive. After replacing the top asphalt layer, you should also have them apply a seal coat within a day or two to ensure that it is also protected from the weather and oxidization, which can cause subgrade problems to develop or worsen.

If your driveway or parking lot is experiencing alligator cracks, contact the asphalt contractors at Professional Asphalt Service. They are the asphalt maintenance experts for the Minneapolis area. Call them today at (612) 636-8888, or visit their website to learn more about their commercial and residential services.