Asphalt driveways and parking lots in Southern Maine face constant punishment from freeze-thaw cycles, UV exposure, and poor drainage—and most damage is preventable. From ignoring small cracks to hiring fly-by-night contractors with 'leftover' material, the mistakes property owners make are predictable and costly. Pine State Asphalt breaks down seven of the most common errors and how to avoid them to protect your investment for years to come.
Maintaining a driveway or parking lot in Southern Maine is a battle against the elements. From the salt and plows of winter to the humid heat of summer, your asphalt is under constant stress. At Pine State Asphalt, we spend a lot of time repairing damage that could have been prevented with a bit of foresight.
Many property owners view asphalt as a "set it and forget it" feature of their home or business. However, avoiding these seven common mistakes can save you a massive headache: and a lot of money: down the road.
It starts with a single hairline crack. Many owners look at it and think, "I'll deal with that in a few years." In Maine, that is a recipe for disaster. Our state is famous for the freeze-thaw cycle. Water enters those tiny cracks, freezes, expands, and pushes the asphalt apart. By the time the snow melts in the spring, that hairline crack is now a significant gap, and the sub-base beneath it has started to soften. Pine State Asphalt recommends addressing any crack wider than a quarter-inch immediately with professional-grade crack filling.
There is a massive difference between the five-gallon buckets of "sealer" you buy at a big-box hardware store and the professional-grade, coal-tar or asphalt-emulsion sealants used by a specialized crew. DIY products are often thin, lack the necessary solids to actually protect the surface, and can peel off within a single season. Professional sealcoating provides a deep, flexible barrier that actually bonds to the asphalt, protecting it from UV rays and water penetration.
As we often tell our clients in Gorham and Saco, water is the number one enemy of asphalt. If you have "birdbaths" (standing water) on your driveway after a rainstorm, your asphalt is in trouble. This water seeps through the porous surface and rots the foundation from the inside out. Proper grading and earthwork are essential during installation to ensure water flows away from the pavement, not onto it.
The edges of a driveway are its most vulnerable points. If the soil around your driveway is lower than the asphalt, or if there is no structural support (like a curb or compacted stone), the edges will begin to crack and break off. This is known as "edge cracking." Keeping your landscaping flush with the driveway and avoiding driving heavy vehicles over the very edge can significantly extend the life of the pavement.
If your car leaks oil or gasoline on your driveway, don't just leave it. Petroleum products are solvents; because asphalt is also a petroleum product, oil will literally dissolve the binder that holds the stones together. You’ll notice the area becoming soft and "gummy" before it eventually turns into a hole. Clean spills immediately with a mild detergent: never use harsh chemicals or wire brushes that can scar the surface.
We know you’re excited to use your new driveway, but patience is a virtue. Depending on the temperature and the mix used, Pine State Asphalt usually recommends waiting at least 24 to 72 hours before driving a vehicle onto fresh asphalt. Even after that, for the first few months, you should avoid turning your steering wheel while the car is stationary, as this can create "power steering scuffs" on the still-curing surface.
Every summer, "paving gypsies" travel through Maine offering deals because they have "leftover asphalt from a job down the street." This is almost always a scam. Professional paving requires the material to be at a specific temperature (hot-mix) to compact correctly. By the time a crew has "leftover" material from another job, it has cooled down too much to create a durable bond. Always hire a locally owned, licensed, and insured contractor like Pine State Asphalt to ensure you get a quality product that lasts.
"They were easy to work with and did a beautiful job sealing the driveway. So very happy we use them."
"Did my driveway. Very large, very steep driveway with some special features. Came out great. Very happy with the service. Nice people to work with too."
"You guys did an awesome job! The sealcoating looks great on my driveway and you can barely tell that the in-laws pothole was ever there. Thanks for the work!"
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