Alligators! 4 Reasons They’re in Your Parking Lot

You don’t have to be able to tell the difference between alligators or crocodiles to know that there is serious trouble in your parking lot. Often called “alligator” cracking because the cracks resemble reptile scales, this type of cracking is a sure sign of impending potholes. They can be caused by:

1. A Weak Subbase (Foundation)

A parking lot is only as strong as its subbase, or the underlying layer of rock. Your asphalt contracting company should make sure the subbase is as smooth, compacted and stable as possible before ever installing asphalt. If not, alligator cracking happens.

2. Too Much Water

Poor drainage of water off of and away from your parking lot can also lead to alligator cracking.

3. Heavy Loads Parking in the Same Spot

Commercial property owners often have this problem of heavy equipment or vehicles always parking on a certain spot. If the subbase and asphalt there was not installed with heavy loads in mind, stress can fracture the asphalt into alligator cracking too.

4. That Old Freeze-Thaw Cycle

If you have even a small drainage issue and water gets down into small cracks and infiltrates the subbase and adjacent areas of the asphalt, you can have winter freeze-thaw damage. Water expands as it freezes into ice, stretching small cracks into big ones, then melts, leaving behind bigger cracks that just keep getting bigger all winter. That’s why potholes are so prevalent in the late winter and spring.

Sticking to a regular parking lot maintenance schedule with sealcoating, cleaning and checking the drainage regularly can prevent alligator cracking. Also, if you notice small cracks in the asphalt now, have them repaired before winter to keep water from getting down into the subbase and setting alligators loose in your parking lot!

If you have alligator cracking in your asphalt, potholes aren’t far behind. Please contact Espina Paving at (703) 491-9100 for repairs!