A driveway in good condition adds value to your home and ensures it is usable for your family. Winter can be one of the hardest times of year on asphalt driveway paving.

Issues

Winter damage can result in a lot of driveway issues. Most common is the formation of cracks and potholes. Damage often begins with small cracks or pits, which later develop into large potholes and crumbling cracks.

The surface may also begin to gravel, which is when the top layer of stone aggregate in the asphalt begins to break free due to the shrinkage of the asphalt itself. Graveling can speed up the development of cracks and potholes, as well. 

Causes

Cold winter temperatures play a role in asphalt driveway damage, but they are by no means the only cause. As temperatures fluctuate, the asphalt expands and contracts. Any moisture trapped in the asphalt will also expand as it freezes, which can break apart asphalt and speed graveling and pothole development. 

Ice and snow melt products, particularly those containing ordinary salt, can speed up the process as they allow the melt water to supersaturate the asphalt. Combine that with mechanical damage, such as from snow shovel blades, and by the end of winter your driveway can be in very poor shape. 

Prevention

Prevention begins with good pre-winter care. Have any small cracks or pits filled with a hot patch asphalt product. These typically contain a mixture of both asphalt and epoxies, and the heat ensures they bond well with the surrounding driveway material. 

Further, use care when managing snow and ice. Avoid using ordinary or rock salt as an ice melt, and instead use products that are designed for melting ice on paving. Sweep up the excess after the ice melts to further minimize the chances of damage. Finally, use snow shovels with a rubber or plastic edge to minimize damage to the asphalt surface. 

Protection

To fully prevent winter damage on your asphalt driveway, protection is also necessary. An asphalt sealcoat application is the best way to do this. There are few different sealcoating options depending on your climate and specific needs, but at their most basic, sealcoats are a thin asphalt solution mixed with sealers that are designed to resist weathering as well as normal wear and tear.

Sealcoating isn't usually applied every year, but only when the old coating begins to wear down. If water soaks into asphalt instead of beading on the surface, or if the driveway seems faded or crumbly, then it's time to coat it again.

Contact an asphalt sealcoating service before winter to ensure your driveway has the protection it needs.