We all know that concrete cracks, however, asphalt driveway cracks are a rarely experienced problem in major cities of Australia. However, if the concrete was perfectly mixed with appropriate quantities to water, used high quality raw materials and many other precautions taken, there would be far less possibility of cracks occurring. There are many causes why concrete and even a asphalt driveway might crack.
Below are some of the causes for concrete and asphalt driveway cracks.
Structural causes
Having a expansion and control joints to the concrete structure is very essential to prevent cracking in the Victoria driveways. A series of random cracking is an indication of weak installation and poor concrete material quality. Besides this, as the concrete ages, asphalt or concrete can crack down. If the sealing is not done frequently then cracks might happen. Besides this, keeping or handling heavy equipments can cause surface cracks. If the base in not prepared properly then this might also be the cause of cracks.
Tree roots
Concretes which are laid down in the areas where there are lot of trees, the driveways can get cracked. When trees grow and roots also grow, the roots can aggravate and cause severe cracks in the walls and bases. It might even cause the buildings to crack and fall at extreme cases as the pressure build up.
Exposure to chemicals
Cracks in driveways can occur if the surface is exposed to harsh chemicals and poisons materials. This may include ice melting salts or automobile fluids. Chemicals can not only cause harmful effects but also damage the concrete by thinning it and making cracks in it.
Heavy weight
Both pressure from below and above can cause cracks. When you heavy substances are kept on the driveway, there can be a lot of possibility of having more cracks on the base. It all depends on the quality of the material used to make the pavements and other structures in order to decide what is the optimal weight which needs to be used for preventing cracks. Australian researches show that any weight over few tons can definitely cause the cracks regardless of how strong or how qualitative material is being used for the construction.
Weather conditions
Not every weather condition is favorable to the surfaces. If the driveways are Freezing weather can cause cracks and damage the surface. Concrete can crack due to extreme cold or under extreme heat. The edging might crack or get fungus collection in extreme weather conditions. Shrinkage or frost heal can also be the cause for the cracks.
Now we know all the causes for the concrete and asphalt driveway cracks in Melbourne, Victoria and many other cities. Appropriate measures and solutions need to be taken in order to resolve the cracks. Preventing cracks is always much better than curing them. That is why we need to thoroughly understand the causes of cracks and take all the precautionary measures to fix it even before it happens.