Potholes are ubiquitous. From parking lots to driveways, from asphalt pavements to highways, these are found everywhere. Changing weather, large amount of snow fall, repeated freeze-thaw cycles only add more misery by causing them more frequently and in big sizes.
How are potholes created?
Cracks are common in driveways and roads and are caused due to heavy traffic volume and soil stabilization issues. Moisture penetrates into these cracks and when it freezes during the cold months, the cracks expand. These expanded cracks force dirt and gravel out and when coupled with melting of ice, the stressed asphalt disintegrates to form a pothole.
How to repair potholes?
Potholes can be repaired using asphalt patching material. Asphalt patching products are of two types - cold asphalt and hot asphalt. Both have their own benefits and problems but cold asphalt proves to be a better solution for repairing potholes due to ease of use, handling, compaction and longer life. Though high performance cold mix asphalt costs more than the hot mix, over a period of time due to its sustainability, it proves to be the economic option.
Cold Asphalt or Hot Asphalt for pothole repair?
Hot Asphalt, as the name suggests is mixed at a high temperature, at about 300 F. All the steps of a pothole repair exercise too, are performed at high temperature. This becomes a serious limitation in frigid temperature conditions when the asphalt surface usually becomes so cold that hot mix cannot be applied properly.
Cold Asphalt is the correct solution for these lower temperatures and is mixed at lower temperatures. Cold asphalt is less viscous than hot asphalt and is compact and easy to use. Cold Asphalt usually offers serious benefits of being easier to use and manage and at the same time looks exactly like hot asphalt mix.
Pothole repair can be an easy process, if adopted correctly with the right service material. Patching of potholes with cold mix asphalt can mean longevity and rescue from the process of repeated mixing, cleaning, pouring and compaction.
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