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Solving Problems...	What Causes Asphalt Pavement to Fail?
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What Causes Asphalt Pavement to Fail?

Assuming that the initial asphalt pavement was designed and constructed properly, the primary cause of failure is the penetration of water into the asphalt base.  Oxidation of the pavement surface begins this process which caused the asphalt to dry and become brittle.  This oxidation leads to the erosion of the top layer of fine particles and the appearance of larger stones and small cracks on the surface.  If left untreated, these cracks grow over time and eventually allow water to penetrate to the base of the pavement. When water enters the base of the pavement, the base material moves and settles leading to further cracking and an "alligator appearance."  When the pavement reaches this stage the only option is removal and replacement of the old asphalt, which costs the most.

In short, your Asphalt Pavement will fail because of AIR & WATER, unless you are proactive to maintain the surface & extend the life of the asphalt.  Like Death & Taxes, Air & Water are unavoidable to your asphalt pavement.  Whatever the condition of your Asphalt Pavement, if you want to keep your overall costs down, you will need to implement a plan to maintain your asphalt pavement before it has to be replaced!