DIAGNOSE IT FIRST
What is wrong with my pavement?
Eighteen things people call us about, what each one actually means, and whether it is maintenance or a sign the pavement needs a contractor we are not. We do not pave, so we have no reason to tell you anything but the truth about which is which.
Alligator Cracking: What It Means and Whether Sealcoating Will Help
The pavement has broken into a web of small interconnected cracks that look like the back of an alligator.
Potholes Forming: Why They Happen and Who Should Fix Them
Bowl-shaped holes are opening in the pavement, usually starting small and getting wider and deeper each season.
Driveway Turning Gray: What Oxidized Asphalt Is Telling You
The pavement has faded from black to a light gray or bone color and looks dry and dull.
Surface Raveling: Why Loose Grit Is Coming Off Your Pavement
Loose sand and small stones are coming off the pavement surface and collecting at the edges or on your shoes.
Plow Gouges and Blade Marks: Damage From Snow Removal
The pavement has long scrapes, torn spots, or chunks missing where a plow blade caught it.
Frost Heave: Why Your Pavement Lifts and Settles Every Year
Sections of pavement lift up in winter, sometimes several inches, and settle back down or stay uneven after thaw.
Standing Water and Ponding: What Puddles Are Doing to Your Pavement
Puddles remain on the pavement long after rain or snowmelt has stopped, sometimes for days.
Edge Crumbling: Why Your Pavement Is Breaking Apart at the Sides
The outer edges of the driveway or road are cracking, breaking off in chunks, and getting narrower each year.
Cracks Widening Every Year: What Growing Cracks Mean
Cracks that were hairline a few years ago are now wide enough to drop a pencil into, and they get bigger every spring.
Oil Stains Softening Asphalt: Why Drips Damage Pavement
Dark stains under parked vehicles where the pavement feels soft, sticky, or has started to pit and sink.
Sealcoat Peeling or Flaking: Why a Coating Fails Early
The sealcoat is lifting off in flakes or sheets, showing gray pavement underneath in patches.
Faded Parking Lot Lines: Why Striping Wears Out and When to Redo It
Stall lines, arrows, and accessible parking markings have worn down to faint outlines or disappeared entirely.
Birdbath Depressions: Small Low Spots That Hold Water
Small, shallow dish-shaped areas hold water for days after rain or snowmelt while the rest of the pavement is dry.
Tree Root Damage: When Pines Lift and Crack Your Pavement
The pavement is humped, cracked, or lifted in a line running from a nearby tree.
Ice Sheets on the Driveway: Why They Form and What They Mean
A sheet of ice forms in the same area of the driveway every winter, often when the rest of the surface is clear.
Pine Needle and Organic Staining: The Dark Film on Your Pavement
Dark brown or black staining, sometimes with a slick green film, where needles and leaves sit on the pavement.
New Cracks After the First Winter: Is That Normal?
Pavement that was installed last summer has visible cracks after a single winter.
Asphalt That Never Dries Out: What Constant Dampness Means
One area of the pavement stays dark and wet-looking for days or weeks after everything around it has dried.
Still not sure? The guides go deeper on how pavement fails, and the FAQ answers the practical questions about timing, season, and scheduling.
Not sure what you are looking at?
Send a photo or call (530) 587-4161. We reply within one business day and we will tell you straight whether it is something we can maintain or something that needs a paving contractor.