Put Your Pavement to the Test

What you don’t know about your pavement may be costing you money. Preventative maintenance is the key to making your pavement investment last, so Put Your Pavement to the Test. Below is a point guide system to help you evaluate the condition of your pavement and increase its value.

Directions: Rate the condition of your pavement from 1 to 5, with 5 being the worst. Click the check box next to the appropriate rating. Click “submit” when you have rated each category to calculate your total and be directed to our results and recommendation page.

Raveling

The ongoing seperation of aggregate particles from the pavement’s surface

Cause:

Water penetrates unprotected pavement surface.

Repair:

Sealcoating will prevent raveling.

Prevention:

Application of sealer after new asphalt has cured.

Polished Aggregate

Aggregate in pavement has been smoothed resulting
in slick, unsafe surface

Polished Aggregate

Cause:

Repeated traffic polishes aggregate.

Repair:

Use a special bonding primer to gain adhesion.

Prevention:

Regularly scheduled application of sand slurrysealcoat.

Gas & Oil Stains

Aggregate in pavement has been smoothed resulting
in slick, unsafe surface

Gas and Oil Stains

Cause:

Gas and oil dripping from vehicles.

Repair:

Depending on severity, patching or the application of special oil resistant bonding primer

prior to sealcoating.

Prevention:

Sealcoat over oil resistant primer as quickly as possible after new asphalt has been

laid.

Cracks

Alligator, shrinkage, longitudinal & reflection
Interconnecting or cracks spaced evenly apart and fairly parallel

Cracks

Cracks2

Cause:

Various factors may be the cause: pavement movement, shrinkage of asphalt mix due to

oxidation, weak or weathered joints, extreme temperature changes, and/or surface layer movement.

Repair:

Alligatored areas need to be removed and replaced. Random cracks should be repaired with a

crack sealant prior to sealcoating.

Prevention:

Depending on the type of cracks your pavement has, proper prevention varies. Ensure

proper pavement installation, consider the use of reinforced fabric prior to surfacing, timely crack filling, sealcoating, sealer

applications.

Potholes

Bowl-shaped holes of various sizes

Cause:

Various factors may be the cause: pavement movement, shrinkage of asphalt mix due to

oxidation, weak or weathered joints, extreme temperature changes, and/or surface layer movement.

Repair:

Alligatored areas need to be removed and replaced. Random cracks should be repaired with a

crack sealant prior to sealcoating.

Prevention:

Depending on the type of cracks your pavement has, proper prevention varies. Ensure

proper pavement installation, consider the use of reinforced fabric prior to surfacing, timely crack filling, sealcoating, sealer

applications.

Grade Depressions

Localized low areas that are limited in size,
often indicated by standing water

Cause:

Traffic may be heavier than the pavement was designed for, or a localized subsurface drainage

problem may exist.

Repair:

Based on field inspection, either correct drainage problem and repair pavement, or correct

grade by localized leveling.

Prevention:

Proper pavement design and construction with emphasis on traffic load and

drainage.

Corrugation or Rutting

A fairly regular pattern of wave-like bumps

Cause:

Lack of stability in asphalt layer.

Repair:

Removal and replacement of pavement.

Prevention:

Proper pavement design and construction.