Pavement distresses are more than surface flaws — they signal deeper issues that can escalate into expensive repairs if ignored. Every crack, pothole, or worn surface reveals clues about the pavement's condition and its root causes. 

With over 75 years in the business, Bituminous Roadways, Inc. excels at uncovering these problems and delivering tailored maintenance solutions. 

Curious about tackling pavement distresses like a pro? Keep reading to learn how!

Cracking 

Cracking can occur for several reasons, but the main causes are environmental factors or inadequate pavement structure. Environmental factors that cause cracking are temperature and UV radiation from the sun. 

Thermal Cracking

Harsh Minnesota winters bring very cold temperatures. These cold temperatures cause the pavement to contract and try to pull away from itself (i.e., crack). 

While the asphalt is new and fresh, it is flexible and can stretch, but the aging of the asphalt caused by UV radiation (called oxidation) makes it more brittle each year until it can no longer resist cold-temperature shrinkage. 

Thermal cracks are consistent, evenly spaced, and typically travel in the same direction.

Other cracks can also be caused by the aging (or oxidation) of the asphalt surface, but traffic loads can cause the more brittle pavement to crack instead of cold temperatures. 

Block Cracking

These cracks got their name from the checkerboard-like pattern created within them. Pavements with block cracking are usually well-built and can be easily maintained with crack sealing and seal coats. They are great candidates for rehabilitation with a mill and overlay. 

Fatigue Cracks

Structural cracks are caused by weak subgrades and/or too-thin asphalt pavements, which allow heavy traffic loads to flex the pavement beyond its resistance. 

Fatigue cracks are more commonly called alligator cracks because their crack pattern resembles alligator scales. They start at the bottom of the pavement and may take a few years to appear. 

Deformations

Pavement deformations are caused by subgrade failures, asphalt deformations, and/or freeze-thaw cycles. 

These deformations can look very similar but are caused by very different issues. When the subgrade, the material below the asphalt pavement and aggregate base, is too soft, the traffic loading on the surface can compress it to create a depression in the pavement. 

Subgrade Failure 

These deformations typically affect larger areas and look like the pavement has settled or sagged to create a wide bowl for water to pool. Asphalt mixtures can also have deformation issues. 

Many known factors can contribute to these deformation issues, including the binder grade, the angularity of the aggregates used, the amount of fine aggregate in the mix, the number of binders in the mix, the number of recycled materials in the mix, and more. 

Asphalt Deformations 

These are typically small and look as if the asphalt moved straight down where the heavy load was applied and bulged up slightly around the applied load. 

Generally, these deformations occur early in the pavement's life and, depending on the severity can be corrected with mill patching, full-depth patching, or pavement rehabilitation. 

Additionally, deformations can form during winter's freeze-thaw cycles, causing ice lenses to form below the pavement. When formed, these ice lenses cause the pavement to heave upward, and after the ice lens melts, the area becomes a depression in the pavement. 

Deterioration

The last form of pavement distress is deterioration or the loss of pavement materials. 

Raveling 

Raveling is the progressive loss of asphalt materials from the pavement's surface. It starts with the fine aggregates breaking loose, which exposes the larger aggregates. Eventually, the larger aggregates may break loose, creating a rough driving surface and pockets for water to infiltrate the pavement. 

Potholes

Potholes form when large chunks of pavement are broken loose or deteriorated to rubble and carried away. Potholes form in areas already affected by cracking and deformation and should be repaired quickly to avoid vehicle damage or pedestrian injury. 

Download our Pavement Distress Flyer to identify the distresses affecting your parking lot, or contact BR for a pavement assessment by one of our trained professionals. 

Assessing the Damage

There are several ways to assess your pavement and let you plan in advance!

Call Bituminous Roadways, Inc. for a Professional Assessment

The simplest assessment method is to let someone else do the assessment. 

Before providing a customer with an asphalt pavement repair estimate, BR estimators visit the site and perform a job site analysis. We do a thorough walkthrough of the site, looking at what asphalt distresses are present and determining what might be the cause of the distress. We also look at any concrete work that might need to be repaired.

One of our featured projects was with Stillwater Motors, and the lot was the perfect fit for a mill and overlay due to signs of normal wear and tear. The project scope included concrete patching, a 2” mill overlay, and parking lot restriping, and we corrected some drainage problems at the same time.

No matter your project size or scope, we provide a detailed report on the pavement's condition, a list of various distresses present, a quick assessment of potential ADA concerns, and pictures documenting everything. 

Simply Document the Distress Types

One of the most basic types of assessment is to document the types of distress on your asphalt surface. Using our guide, walk around your pavement and make a list of the different types of distress present. 

BR's Guided Assessment

This quick and easy pavement condition assessment is available as part of our Owners Guide. Answering these simple questions and calculating your total score can give you a better idea of your pavement's condition and maintenance recommendations. 

Pavement Surface Evaluation & Rating (PASER)

The University of Wisconsin developed the PASER rating system as a simple and quick visual assessment for roadways. The assessor visually compares the pavement condition to photographic examples of each rating (10 to 1) in the PASER manual. PASER is a good, simple system for pavement management programs, which can be found at this link.

ASTM D6433: Standard Practice for Roads & Parking Lots Pavement Condition Index Surveys

If these methods seem too simple, there is always ASTM D6433. Before calculating your pavement's Pavement Condition Index (PCI), each crack, series of cracks, divot, and pothole must be measured for length, width, and depth. 

Selecting Materials: Why Asphalt vs. Concrete for Parking Lots?

Asphalt is often used to install parking lots; concrete is another option. What’s the difference?

Asphalt 

The asphalt mixture should be fine-graded for parking lots to prevent moisture from penetrating the surface and provide a smoother, more flexible, and better-looking finish. BR can manufacture asphalt using a variety of aggregates, liquids, and additional materials. 

Concrete 

Concrete parking lots are essentially exterior slabs of concrete on the ground, and before paving, the concrete may need to be repaired or replaced. Its low maintenance can compensate for some applications' initial investment over time. 

Getting the Perfect Repair

There are several effective pavement repair techniques to consider. 

  • Sealcoating: Sealcoating creates a protective layer on the pavement's surface that can slow the aging process. 

  • Asphalt Pavement Overlay: Overlays refresh the pavement's surface and curb appeal but are only recommended for pavements still performing well.

  • Mill & Overlay: A mill and overlay refreshes the pavement's surface, much like a normal overlay, but also allows for correcting drainage issues. 

  • Remove & Replace: Removes the existing asphalt from the aggregate base and replaces it with new pavement layers. 

  • Asphalt Reclaiming: Reclamation involves grinding up the entire layer of asphalt and some of the material beneath it, mixing them to form a solid base for new pavement. 

  • Stabilized Full Depth Reclamation: Uses cement or asphalt emulsion to strengthen the base. Once mixed, the base is quickly smoothed out before it hardens, forming a solid foundation for laying asphalt. 

  • Full Reconstruction: Completely removes the old road surface, including the asphalt and the layers underneath it, down to a depth equal to or greater than the new road's need. 

Keep Your Pavement in Perfect Condition with the BR Team

Bituminous Roadways, Inc. is the Twin Cities' most respected and sought-after asphalt pavement company. With over 70 years in the industry, we provide dependable service and the highest quality asphalt paving anywhere. 

We proudly serve the Twin Cities metro and the surrounding area. Reach out today to connect with our pros!