5 Signs It’s Time to Repave Your Driveway

Need to repave your driveway? Over time your driveway will take on massive amounts of wear and tear. Throughout the years, it is subjected to the weight of vehicles, weather conditions, and changes in the season. All this stress on your driveway can cause it to begin to degrade structurally, which then creates an uneven surface or potholes. This causes your driveway to no longer be functional and isn’t pretty for the exterior aesthetic of your home.

Be aware of warning signs associated with a worn-out an aging driveway can help you in having the driveway repaved before it crumbles completely. Here are five signs that it is time to repave your driveway.

1. Issues with Water Drainage

A pretty clear indication that your driveway is reaching or has reached the end of its life is when you notice that water is having a hard time draining off the surface.  If over time, the surface of your driveway has become uneven due to the physical wear and tear or improper installation in the first place, this can all cause water to collect excessively on the surface. If you are noticing pooling water, or water that drains to a specific channel down the driveway, this can increase the amount of wear and tear on your driveway.

2. Several Cracks

If your noticing cracks on your driveway, which is probably the most straightforward sign that your driveway is beginning to age and needs to be repaved. Cracks can form naturally from leaking chemicals from your vehicle onto the surface of the driveway. The fluctuation in temperature can also cause the asphalt in your driveway to expand and contract, which causes cracks. Cracks are natural in the life span of a driveway, so you shouldn’t be overly concerned about small cracks, but if cracks start to affect the structure of the surface of the driveway, you will need to address this issue by repaving.

3. Coarse Surface

Patching or resealing small cracks in your driveway will only work for a short time, and continually doing minor repairs to your driveway will leave the surface of your driveway coarse covered in small patched cracks. When your driveway has reached this point anymore wear and tear on your driveway could cause large cracks, or even cause the asphalt to crumble. Driveways lifespans depend on the climate it is exposed to, but generally, you should expect your driveway to last 10-15 years with moderate wear and tear.

4. Excessive Potholes

Potholes are a serious issue to the structure of your driveway and much different than small cracks. When the ground underneath your driveway is shifting, it causes potholes and potentially can cause the asphalt to start to crumble apart. When your driveway develops potholes, it is much more likely for the surrounding area to fall apart with will cause significant damage to your vehicle’s tires and suspension if left unfixed and it’s definitely time to repave your driveway.

Repaving your driveway will probably be a lot less expensive then the hefty car repairs should anything break.

5. Changes in Color

Changes to the color of your asphalt are a severe issue when your asphalt changes colors from dark to gray, and it means it has been bleached by weather and the sun’s UV rays. A graying driveway is a sign that the asphalt is brittle and much more likely to fall apart or start developing serious cracks and potholes.

Final Thoughts on How to Repave Your Driveway

Watch for these five signs, pooling water, cracks, rough surface, potholes, and changes in color that signal that its time to consider to repave your driveway before any more damage is done.

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