How Midwest Winters Damage Asphalt and What Property Owners Can Do

In the Midwest, winters can be frigid, harsh and seemingly never-ending. The snow and ice create challenging conditions for vehicles and pedestrians alike. Property owners know keeping their sidewalks and parking lots clear for customers, residents, staff, and visitors is a non-negotiable for maintaining a safe and welcoming environment. And even when you have a professional team and plan in place for keeping walkways, roadways and parking lots clear of snow and ice, winter conditions can still cause damage to asphalt surfaces.

Find out more about how winter impacts your pavement, what warning signs to watch for, what you can do to protect your surfaces before winter even begins, and how to address damage when it occurs.

How Midwest Winters Damage Asphalt

Freeze-Thaw Cycles

Throughout the winter season, it's common for it to freeze and warm up just enough for snow and ice to melt into water and freeze again. In fact, this can happen every day and every night when the temperatures are bouncing back and forth above and below freezing. The problem with this is that it creates damaging conditions for pavement; when water freezes and melts, it weakens the asphalt, which can lead to water getting into small surface cracks. When this continues to occur throughout the winter, it can cause pavement cracks to grow, potholes to form and surface wear.

How Freeze-Thaw Cycles Damage Asphalt (And What to Do About It)

Vehicle Traffic

In places like Minnesota and Wisconsin, a little snow (or 3 feet) isn't going to stop people, customers and workers from going about their normal daily routine. And even when you hire a great snow removal company to manage your property during the winter season, you can't prevent the harmful effects winter brings to pavement.

Freezing temps, snow and moisture, and vehicle traffic create the perfect conditions for pavement damage. Cold temperatures make asphalt more brittle, while moisture seeps into cracks and expands as it freezes, putting additional stress on the surface. Combine this with regular traffic, and these conditions can quickly lead to cracks, potholes, and other pavement damage.

Snow Removal Tactics

Snow removal in the Midwest is an ongoing thing. Depending on the weather and snow patterns, snow may need to be cleared numerous times a week. Even with careful removal tactics, the continuous scraping of snowplows, trucks or tractors on pavement inevitably causes weak spots and damage.

Often, in large commercial parking lots such as big box stores, retail shopping centers and professional business office suites, it's necessary to use one area for snow storage; this looks like a large snow pile that gets added to throughout the season as snow is removed from parking spots and driving areas. Although this is necessary for large facilities, the snow sitting in one spot of your parking lot all winter long is prone to causing wear and damage.

Assess and Fix Snowplow Damage on Commercial Lots

Salt and Chemicals

Even with routine snow plowing and shoveling, parking lots, sidewalks, and business entrances must be treated to prevent ice buildup and dangerous surfaces and conditions. The salt and chemicals used to lower freezing temperatures and prevent icy spots are essential for keeping parking lots and sidewalks safe. However, they can also contribute to the deterioration of asphalt and other paved surfaces, causing damage over time.

Winter Asphalt Damage: When to Repair vs. Replace

What Property Owners Can Do

Prioritize Summer Maintenance

Before winter even arrives is the best time to take action. Preparing your paved surfaces by addressing cracks, potholes, drainage issues and other pavement issues before winter is best to prevent pavement problems. Sealing cracks and repairing damaged areas helps prevent winter snow and moisture from seeping into the surface and causing further damage when temperatures begin to drop.

Monitor Pavement Throughout Winter

One thing you don't want to do is ignore issues and leave it all until spring. Not only can this create dangerous conditions for vehicles and people walking, but it can also lead to significantly worse and more expensive damage to your pavement. Routinely check for new cracks, potholes and other signs of deterioration. Keeping a close eye in the winter and taking action when necessary can keep your parking lots safe.

Prioritize Prompt Repairs

If you do start to notice signs of pavement damage like cracks and potholes, it's smart to have them assessed by a professional like Doctor Asphalt. This way, you can know if the best course of action is waiting to repair during the spring or if the damage needs to be corrected sooner with pavement repairs like infrared patching.

Have a Multi-Year Maintenance Plan

Establishing a multi-year asphalt maintenance plan can help property owners and facility managers stay ahead of cracks, potholes, and surface wear. When planned and implemented properly, a multi-year maintenance plan can save you money and significantly extend your pavement's life.

How to Build a Multi-Year Asphalt Maintenance Plan

At Doctor Asphalt, we specialize in helping businesses of all types and sizes build effective multi-year maintenance plans.

Protect Your Pavement This Winter

At Doctor Asphalt, our headquarters are located in Wisconsin and Minnesota, so we understand firsthand the challenges winter brings to paved surfaces. Our regional experience makes us well-equipped to handle the unique demands of maintaining and protecting pavement in these conditions.

Whether you need help preparing your pavement for winter or repairing damage after the snow melts, our team is here to help. Contact us today for a free estimate.

Doctor Asphalt delivers high-quality asphalt paving and maintenance solutions designed for the unique demands of the local climate. With a strong reputation for reliability and expertise, we provide premium services that enhance the safety and longevity of commercial and residential properties. Serving Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Texas, with nationwide capabilities for multi-property clients, we ensure durable, professional results that keep your pavement in top condition.