Fall leaves are stunning with their reds and golds and oranges. Autumn is the ideal time of year to take a stroll outside and bask in nature’s beauty. More people head up the canyons in order to see the leaves in the mountains in their full glory. Beautiful as fall leaves are, though, you want to ensure that you keep them off of your asphalt. Fallen leaves can affect your asphalt in a number of negative ways.
While raking up fallen leaves for kids – or you! – to jump into is a peak autumnal activity, you want to be sure that you clear them away when you’re done in order to keep your asphalt in good condition. Here’s what you need to know about some of the ways in which fallen leaves can affect your asphalt.
#1. Prevent Adequate Drainage
Your asphalt needs proper drainage in order to last longer and to stay in good condition. You know how there are more potholes and cracks in the road after rainy and snowy seasons? This is because water can erode your asphalt. If your asphalt already has existing cracks in it, then water can get under it, then, during the freeze-thaw cycle, it expands and pushes it out, creating aforementioned potholes.
You want to ensure that your asphalt has the best drainage possible. Piles of leaves prevent this from happening, which leads to damage over time. In order to prevent such damage, when you’re making your leaf piles, do be sure to clean the leaves up, so that any water can properly drain off of your asphalt.
#2. Driveway Stains
Many people will buy fake leaves to decorate their homes with during this time of year. However, as pretty as fall leaves are, if left on your asphalt, they can actually end up staining it. This is because leaves have substances that can stain your asphalt if left there, such as tree sap. Stains can be quite expensive to clean, and may necessitate hiring either a professional asphalt contractor to clean them, or, in more severe cases, a replacement of the stained section may be necessary.
In some cases, the outlines of the leaves can be left behind. While you may like the aesthetic of leaf-designs on your driveway, there are better ways to achieve this than in a way that can negatively affect your asphalt. If you want to change the design of your driveway, consider concrete overlays or stamps or a similar service that customizes your driveway to your liking in a way that won’t damage it.
#3. Decreased Curb Appeal
Fallen leaves can be aesthetically appealing in certain areas. However, in others, they can end up making your space look dirty and uncared for. Your asphalt is one such space that can suffer from a build-up of leaves. If you have a business or you simply want to ensure that you home looks its best, you’ll want to clean up any leaves in order to maintain a clean and presentable asphalt surface.
Make it a part of your seasonal chores to rake up any leaves that fall on your asphalt, the same way that you shovel snow during the winter. That way, you can enjoy a more aesthetically appealing home and prevent the lifespan of your asphalt from decreasing due to the damage leaves can cause.
#4. Shortened Lifespan
As you can imagine from the aforementioned points, if you leave leaves on your asphalt, you’ll likely notice that it doesn’t end up lasting as long as it would otherwise. You want to not only keep your asphalt looking its best, but also performing its best so that you can get your money’s worth out of it.
Asphalt replacement is an extensive job, and while it may be necessary eventually, you don’t want to have to get it done more frequently because you’re not properly maintaining your asphalt. You can help your asphalt last as long as it’s supposed to by cleaning up any fallen leaves on it, and thus preventing potential damage and stains to your pavement.
Professional Asphalt Maintenance In Northern Utah
Precision Asphalt Maintenance is here to help you with your asphalt needs. Whether you need some asphalt maintenance done or you have some repairs that need to be addressed or you need to have new asphalt installed, you can count on the experts here at Precision Asphalt Maintenance for top-quality services. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you with your pavement needs.
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