Asphalt is laid throughout North America, the UK and most of mainland Europe for surfacing roads, car parks and driveways. It is seen as a practical, relatively low cost surface but as with any other external product, over time the surface will start to deteriorate due to vehicle use, the effects of the weather and general wear & tear.
Asphalt when first laid is full of resins that act like a ‘glue’ holding the components of the material together. This resin ‘glue’ when mixed with various aggregates and pigments creates a form of bituminous concrete, commonly referred to as tarmac or asphalt.
When exposed to the elements for a number of years, UV light and water will start to have a adverse effect on the asphalt, causing the product to lose color and generally fade from black to light grey in color. This on going process of deterioration effectively means the resins within the asphalt are ‘drying out’ and the tarmac will often start to crack and break up. Ideally your asphalt has not reached this stage of deterioration, but if it has, don’t worry application of tarmac and asphalt restorers are easily applied and in most cases will restore the tarmac back close to its original condition.
Looking after your asphalt, not only makes sense by protecting your investment and keeping it looking good, but also often avoids the need for complete replacement of the driveway or car park.