The Winter Menace: Understanding Frost Heave and How You Can Protect Your Pavement
Winter in Connecticut brings picturesque snowfalls and cozy evenings, but beneath the surface, a silent destroyer is at work on our asphalt driveways and parking lots: frost heave. If you've noticed new cracks, uneven surfaces, or mysterious "bumps" appearing in your pavement after a cold snap, you're likely experiencing the damaging effects of this seasonal phenomenon.
At Connecticut Sealcoating, we understand the unique challenges our local climate poses for asphalt. Let's break down what causes frost heave and how our professional sealcoating services can be your best defense.
What Exactly is Frost Heave?
Frost heave is a process where the freezing and expansion of water in the soil beneath your asphalt pushes the pavement upward, causing it to crack and deform. It's a three-step cycle that relentlessly chips away at the integrity of your paved surfaces:
Water Infiltration: It all starts with moisture. Rain, melting snow, and even humidity seep into the ground beneath your asphalt. This infiltration happens through existing cracks, porous sections of the pavement, or even along the edges of your driveway.
The Freeze: As temperatures drop below freezing, this trapped water transforms into ice. The critical factor here is that water expands by approximately 9% when it freezes. This expansion creates "ice lenses"—layers of ice that grow within the soil.
The Heave: These expanding ice lenses exert immense upward pressure on the soil and, consequently, on the asphalt above. The pavement is literally "heaved" upwards, leading to characteristic cracking, buckling, and uneven surfaces. When the ice melts, the pavement settles back down, often leaving behind a new void and a weakened, fractured structure. This repeated freezing and thawing exacerbate the damage over time.
Why is Connecticut Particularly Susceptible?
Our region experiences frequent freeze-thaw cycles throughout the winter and early spring. These fluctuating temperatures are the perfect recipe for frost heave. One day it's above freezing with melting snow, allowing water to penetrate; the next, it's plummeting below zero, causing that water to freeze and expand.
How Connecticut Sealcoating Repairs and Prevents Damage
While you can't control the weather, you can absolutely control how well your asphalt stands up to it. Professional sealcoating from Connecticut Sealcoating is your most effective defense against frost heave and its destructive consequences.
1. Repairing Existing Damage:
Before any sealcoating application, our team thoroughly inspects your asphalt.
Crack Filling: We meticulously clean and fill existing cracks with specialized, flexible crack fillers. This is a crucial first step in preventing further water infiltration, effectively stopping the frost heave cycle in its tracks.
Pothole Repair: Any potholes or severe depressions are professionally repaired to restore a smooth, safe surface.
2. Preventing Future Damage with a Protective Barrier:
Once repairs are complete, the sealcoating process begins, offering unparalleled protection:
Waterproof Seal: Our high-quality asphalt sealer creates a robust, waterproof barrier over your entire paved surface. This barrier prevents rain, melting snow, and ice from penetrating the asphalt and reaching the vulnerable sub-base where frost heave originates.