Summer is hard on asphalt in two ways: the sun's UV rays slowly dry out and harden the binder that holds the pavement together, and high heat temporarily softens the surface so it scuffs and dents more easily. In Connecticut, a hot July is followed months later by freeze–thaw cycles and road salt, so any cracks that open up in summer tend to get much worse over the winter. Here is what summer does to asphalt and what you can do about it.
Oxidation
Asphalt binder is a petroleum product, and sunlight and oxygen gradually change it. As it oxidizes, the binder loses its lighter, flexible oils and becomes stiffer and more brittle. You can see it happening: a driveway fades from deep black to gray, and the surface starts to look dry and rough, with loose stone showing. Brittle asphalt doesn't flex with temperature changes or vehicle weight, so it cracks more easily. All asphalt ages this way over time, but constant sun exposure speeds it up. Our guide to asphalt deterioration covers the other causes that work alongside it.
Cracking
Asphalt expands as it heats up on a summer afternoon and contracts as it cools at night or during a sudden thunderstorm. Over many cycles, that movement, combined with oxidation, opens up cracks. Cracking is most common in older pavement, but it can appear early when a driveway was built on a weak base or never maintained. The real damage comes later: water gets into the cracks, softens the base underneath, and in a Connecticut winter freezes and expands, pushing the cracks wider. That's why we recommend filling or sealing cracks before the weather turns cold.
Raveling
Raveling is when the surface starts to come apart, with stones loosening and the top layer wearing away. It happens when the binder can no longer hold the aggregate together, usually because the asphalt has oxidized and become brittle, water has worked into the surface, or the pavement wasn't compacted properly when it was installed. Once raveling starts, the surface holds more water, which leads to more cracking, potholes, and eventually base damage. Left alone, a raveling driveway is often headed for repair or resurfacing rather than simple maintenance.
Softening, Scuffing, and Tracking
On a hot, sunny day, a dark asphalt surface gets much hotter than the air around it, because black pavement absorbs most of the sunlight that hits it. When it's that hot, the surface softens. Power steering marks, kickstand holes, and dents from trailer jacks or dumpster feet are common in July and August, and newer asphalt or fresh sealcoat can track onto shoes and tires. This is normal and usually cosmetic, but it's worth being careful on the hottest afternoons:
- Avoid turning the steering wheel while the car is stopped.
- Put a piece of plywood under kickstands, jack stands, ladders, and trailer tongues.
- Keep heavy dumpsters and moving containers off the driveway, or spread their load on boards.
- If your driveway is new, be especially careful through its first summer, while it's still curing.
Preventive Measures
You can't stop the sun from aging asphalt, but you can slow it down. A sealcoat puts a sacrificial layer between the sun and the pavement, and sealcoating every two to three years is one of the most cost-effective ways to protect a driveway from UV damage and water. In Connecticut, late summer into early fall is usually the best time to apply it; our guide on late-summer sealcoating explains why. Fill cracks before you seal, keep water draining off and away from the pavement, and fix small problems while they're still small.
Is your driveway faded, cracked, or crumbling after a hot summer? Contact Maisano Brothers for a free estimate and we'll tell you whether it needs sealcoating, crack repair, or something more.
