Reading Your Pavement
Asphalt tells you what is wrong long before it fails. Learning to read the surface is one of the most valuable skills a property owner can develop. Each distress type has a cause, and each cause dictates a specific repair.
Alligator Cracking
Interconnected cracks that resemble reptile skin. Almost always a base failure — the pavement is flexing more than it was designed to.
Fix: Full-depth patch. Overlay alone will not solve it.
Longitudinal Cracks
Cracks running parallel to traffic direction. Usually caused by paving joint failure or edge cracking from unsupported shoulders.
Fix: Hot rubber crack seal. Widen and rout if severe.
Transverse Cracks
Cracks running across the pavement, often evenly spaced. Caused by thermal contraction — the asphalt has aged and lost some of its flexibility.
Fix: Hot rubber crack seal on a regular cycle.
Block Cracking
A grid of cracks separating the pavement into large blocks. UV aging and binder oxidation are the cause.
Fix: Crack seal followed by sealcoating; overlay in advanced cases.
Potholes
Bowl-shaped depressions where the surface has completely failed. Almost always a water-in-the-base problem.
Fix: Saw-cut patch to solid material, with base repair if needed. Cold-patch is a temporary measure only.
Rutting
Wheel-path depressions from repeated heavy traffic. Indicates under-designed pavement or improperly compacted mix.
Fix: Mill and inlay affected lanes. In severe cases, reconstruction.
Raveling
Loose stones separating from the surface. Caused by under-compaction, low binder content, or oxidation.
Fix: Sealcoat early cases; overlay advanced cases.
Birdbaths and Standing Water
Low spots that hold water after rain. A drainage or grading issue rather than a material issue.
Fix: Infrared repair or targeted overlay. Correct the drainage cause.
Reflective Cracking
Cracks that mirror the pattern of the pavement or joints beneath an overlay. The overlay could not stop movement below.
Fix: More extensive milling and interlayer treatments before future overlays.
Why Diagnosis Matters
Every one of these has been "repaired" the wrong way by a contractor who wanted the easy fix. Correct diagnosis is worth more than any product.
Related Services
Explore the services connected to this topic in our Services library. Every job is scoped and priced in writing by the same family-owned team.
Get a Free Estimate
Quality Paving provides estimates throughout Middle Georgia and surrounding communities, subject to project location and scheduling. If you would like an honest assessment of your property, request a free estimate or call (770) 946-5355.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can potholes be permanently patched?
Yes — with a saw-cut, base-verified, hot-mix patch. Throw-and-go cold patch is a temporary bridge only.
Is alligator cracking always a base problem?
Almost always. Occasionally it points to under-designed pavement thickness, but the fix is still full-depth.
Why do cracks come back after crack filling?
Movement continues. Crack fill slows water intrusion; it does not stop the pavement from moving.