Importance of having a smooth Asphalt Surface

Is it important to have a smooth asphalt surface?

If your asphalt surface is uneven and rough, there are high chances that the rainwater will seep down through the small gaps into the surface. This might not be a problem during the summers but can be an issue during the winters as the water starts freezing and expanding.

As the freezing waters start expanding, it pushes the asphalt away, which lays a lot of strain on it, and once the ice melts, the strained asphalt will start jerking back into its actual position.

So, over time, the process of freezing and thawing, the asphalt surface starts breaking down. As a result, the cracks start appearing on the asphalt surface, and the potholes will start forming as well as dips in the asphalt. Therefore, it is very important to have a smooth asphalt surface.

The reason why is that the asphalt surface is not as smooth as expected

● There is not enough asphalt to bind the aggregates

When the asphalt is in its liquid form, it has to be into a soupy and thick consistency. This indicates that the asphalt binds and coats the aggregates together to form a solid and sturdy production. Thereafter, the soupy asphalt is spread over the top of the aggregates' top layer, keeping it at least 2 inches high. If you cannot meet this requirement, that means that there is not enough asphalt to bind the asphalt together.

If you have a lumpy and chipped finalized asphalt surface, this might be because there wouldn't be enough asphalt used to bind all the aggregates together.

● There is not enough compaction

If you have noticed that your asphalt surface is not smooth and there are loose rocks scattered all over the surface, or if you can kick the small pieces of the asphalt, there are high chances that the asphalt surface was not compacted effectively and efficiently.

This indicates that when the last layer of your asphalt surface was finished, it was left for drying and not compacted adequately by a roller.

It is often said that asphalt compaction is very important because it eradicates the air from the asphalt. The rollers smooth the surface and remove all the air, gaps, and bubbles that might have been there earlier. This is one of the most challenging and important steps in the asphalt process to remove the air pockets for a definite result.

Therefore, it is often suggested to get your asphalt repaired or installed with the help of professionals for efficient results.

● Unsuitable aggregate mix

It is very crucial to have a proper aggregate mix for the better performance of the asphalt surface. If the mixture is not proper, then there are high chances that the integrity of the asphalt falls apart that leaves behind the rough and uneven asphalt surfaces.

Therefore, the asphalt aggregate should be a mixture of properly crushed rocks and small particles like sand to compact them tightly for better performance.

These small rocks should not have smooth edges as the rocks with smooth edges will not bind together properly. If the aggregate has round stones, it will be very difficult to compact the surface, and high chances that there will be gaps in your pre-base. The more the gaps, the weaker the asphalt surface will be.

Whereas the crushed aggregate offers ample strength to hold down the surface together, and without it, there are no chances of it to stand strong, and it will not be a smooth surface either.