The West Sussex summer of 2022 was dry and sunny for three months, and for England, the joint warmest summer on record. Many private roads are made from tarmac and asphalt. These materials are cheaper and less abrasive to tyres than some others, so are good options for roads with moderate private traffic. But they are also black and tend to heat more quickly in the baking sun. You may have noticed cracks on your farm roads or the roads to your commercial premises. These cracks are a sign that the heat has damaged the road. If you haven’t yet done so, now is the time to look at a private road repair.
Take action on private road repair before winter.
The small cracks in your private road may look relatively harmless, but once the rain begins to fall and the temperatures drop, things can quickly get much worse!
If you had a water leak in your home, you wouldn’t wait for it to escalate before booking a repair. Well, the same can be applied when it comes to road damage. These cracks, left unattended, allow water to find its way underneath the surface, expanding and freezing in cold weather. As it thaws, it contracts, leaving weak spots where more water gathers. Eventually, as vehicles using your private or farm roads pass over the weak spots, their weight will cause the weakened tarmac to break up, leaving potholes. Then you’re really in for a bumpy ride!
Surface cracks may be repairable, but potholes eventually lead to a road surface replacement. By repairing the road surface now, you’ll be less likely to witness accidents or damaged equipment from larger potholes later.
As groundwork specialists based close to Petworth in West Sussex, we are always happy to offer an expert opinion on private road repair. Talk to us about how we can help you fix your farm roads or the roads to your commercial premises.
