Fresh, smooth asphalt is essential for safe, efficient, and comfortable travel. However, if you’ve ever encountered a bumpy or uneven asphalt surface, you know how frustrating it can be. This can be even more frustrating if the asphalt has just been installed. You may even wonder why your freshly installed asphalt surface isn’t smooth.
In this blog post, our Precision Asphalt Maintenance team will discuss the importance of smooth asphalt surfaces for users and why your asphalt surface may not be smooth. If you want to learn more about why your asphalt surface isn’t smooth and what you can do to improve it, keep reading.
The Importance of a Smooth Asphalt Surface
Smooth asphalt surfaces play a major role in transportation infrastructure and impact various aspects of everyday life. If your asphalt surface isn’t smooth, it can affect a variety of things, including the following:
Safety
Smooth asphalt roads enhance safety by providing better traction and reducing the risk of accidents. If your asphalt surface isn’t smooth, vehicles may not have optimal contact with the road, increasing the risk of skidding, especially during adverse weather conditions. Good traction is particularly important for heavy vehicles such as trucks and buses, which require stable surfaces to navigate safely.
Efficient Transportation
When your asphalt surface isn’t smooth, it can affect transportation systems. When they are smooth, they encourage smoother traffic flow, reducing congestion and travel times. These surfaces are essential for productivity, as smooth transportation systems enable the timely movement of people and goods.
Asphalt Longevity
If your asphalt surface isn’t smooth, precipitation may seep down into the small gaps in the surface. As the weather gets colder and the water begins to freeze, your asphalt may begin to expand. As the weather warms, it will contract. This constant expansion and contraction can break down the asphalt before its expected lifespan, leading to premature repair costs.
Road User Comfort
Whether your walking path, bike trail, or road is made of asphalt, a jagged surface may be less comfortable for users. Smooth asphalt surfaces minimize vibration and noise levels, creating a more pleasant and enjoyable experience for everyone. This can be especially important if you live in an urban area where noise pollution can affect residents’ quality of life.
Why Your Asphalt Surface Isn’t Smooth
If your asphalt surface isn’t smooth, it can feel incredibly frustrating. Thankfully, if you know what factors caused the lack of smoothness, you may be able to make necessary repairs. The factors that may contribute to a bumpier asphalt surface than you’d prefer include:
1. There Isn’t Enough Asphalt to Bind to the Aggregate
When your asphalt is liquid, it should be thick enough not to spread too quickly but thin enough to be poured. In this liquid state, it is warmed and ready to be poured over an aggregate to form a sturdy asphalt surface. In its soupy state, it can get into all of the spaces between the aggregate, creating a solid surface as it cools.
However, if an inadequate amount of asphalt is poured over the aggregate mix, the surface may be lumpy or uneven. If this is the case, a trustworthy asphalt professional can lay a new layer of aggregate and asphalt to help even out the surface and make it as smooth as you originally intended.
2. There Wasn’t Enough Compaction
When hot asphalt is poured over an aggregate mixture, your asphalt professional will need to smooth it out. This smoothing may be done using a roller or a tamper. When you use a roller to push down hot, freshly poured asphalt, you can push out air bubbles that may compromise the reliability of the surface and ensure it binds to the aggregate.
The tamper or roller should create a smooth, level asphalt surface. However, if your asphalt surface isn’t smooth and appears lifted, it may be due to inadequate compaction. Repairing this concrete isn’t such a straightforward task. In some cases, your asphalt professional may need to remove the surface entirely and start fresh.
3. The Wrong Aggregate Mix Was Used
If you use an incompatible aggregate mix, you may find that your asphalt surface isn’t smooth. When choosing an aggregate mix for your asphalt project, it is important that you choose a mixture that features smooth, crushed rocks and a mixture of smaller particulates. However, the exact aggregate that works best with your project varies based on the weather in your area.
Instead of trying to choose an aggregate mix on your own, it might be best to speak with your asphalt professional. They will know which aggregate is best for your asphalt surface and how it will behave in your local environment. If your aggregate mix is the reason why your asphalt surface isn’t smooth, there is no easy way to smooth the surface.
Asphalt Paving and Repair from Precision Asphalt Maintenance
Our team at Precision Asphalt Maintenance is an expert in all things asphalt. From paving and repairs to coatings, maintenance, and much more, our team is here to help you achieve the asphalt surface you’ve been looking for. If your asphalt surface isn’t smooth and you aren’t sure how to address it on your own, our team can help you repair or replace it and restore your property. Don’t attempt this repair or replacement project on your own. Contact our team today or request a quote to begin your new asphalt project.
