Asphalt driveways rarely fail overnight. They give warning signs first, sometimes for a year or more. The trouble is that those signs are easy to ignore when you drive over them twice a day. A crack that was a hairline in spring is a finger-width gap by winter, and by the next spring it has become a hole.
Catching problems early is the cheapest way to own a driveway. Here are three signs that tell us a driveway needs repair, and what each one usually means.
Sign 1: Cracks that are spreading or connecting
A few thin, isolated cracks are normal on an older driveway. What you want to watch is how they change. Cracks that grow wider each season, branch out, or start to link up with each other are telling you that water is getting into the pavement and the asphalt is losing strength.
The most serious pattern is what paving contractors call alligator cracking: a network of connected cracks that forms small, many-sided pieces, like the scales on an alligator’s back. It usually shows up where cars drive or park most, such as the wheel paths or the spot in front of the garage. Alligator cracking almost always means the base below has weakened. The asphalt is flexing under weight because it is no longer properly supported.
What to do: Isolated cracks can be monitored, and you should keep water draining away from them. Alligator cracking means the base has to be dealt with: the damaged asphalt and weak base are removed and rebuilt, usually as part of milling and repaving or a full replacement. Covering it over without fixing the base just delays the same problem.
Sign 2: Holes, crumbling or broken edges
Once pieces of asphalt come loose, the damage speeds up. A hole collects water, and every freeze in a New Jersey winter pushes it wider and deeper. Tires knock out more material each time they drop in. What starts as a small hole near the street can become a hazard in one season.
Edges are another weak point. Many driveways were built with no support along the sides, so the asphalt at the lawn line slowly cracks off and crumbles as cars drive on or near it. You may also see raveling, where the surface loses fine material and starts to look rough, pitted and gravelly.
What to do: Holes and broken areas are a sign the surface is wearing out. If the base is still sound, milling off the worn asphalt and repaving gives you a tight new surface; if the base has failed, a full asphalt driveway replacement with a new base is the lasting fix. Broken edges can be cut back and rebuilt with better support along the lawn line as part of either job.
Sign 3: Puddles, sinking spots or water heading the wrong way
After a good rain, take a walk down your driveway. Water should run off the surface and away from the house. If you see puddles that linger for hours, a dip that keeps getting deeper, or water flowing toward your garage, something is wrong underneath.
Low spots usually mean the base or the soil below it has settled. That can come from poor compaction when the driveway was built, from water washing out the base, or from heavy loads like a moving truck or dumpster. In areas with clay soils, water has a hard time draining down, so it soaks the base and softens it. Near the shore, sandy soil drains well but can shift if it is not properly compacted.
What to do: First, rule out simple causes like a downspout dumping onto the driveway. If the surface itself has sunk, the fix is to remove the asphalt in that area, correct the base and grade, and repave so water drains properly.
Do not wait for a fourth sign
If you are seeing more than one of these signs across much of the driveway, repairs may no longer be the best value, and a new surface could be the smarter move. Our post on common signs your driveway needs repair covers a few more warning signs, and our list of signs your driveway needs repaving explains when a new surface makes sense. We are always glad to come out, take a look and give you a free estimate.
Need this done right?
Dan The Paver handles asphalt driveway paving across Monmouth, Ocean (Toms River and north) and southern Middlesex counties. Free on-site estimates.