Do you experience sudden hits on rough spots when you drive on the road? They are actually road potholes. It’s important for you to know how they form and how you can avoid them.
Today, we will explain potholes on the road, their formation process, and how you can repair them with some simple repair techniques.
What Are Potholes or Chuckhole Meaning?
The potholes are road surface damage or failure caused by a hole in the road. You will find these cracks below the asphalt layer. They are also known as chukholes (mostly used in the US). You will see these holes on the road when its layers weaken or break down. As a result, you will have a bad driving experience on this type of path.
Types of Potholes
The holes on your path’s surface can form in different ways. You will see these common types of potholes on roads.
-
Classic Pothholes
Classic potholes are the most common kind which you will find on your roads. They start as small round cracks. Then, water and your vehicle load make them bigger. Over time, you will notice road surface breaks and forms a big hole. However, the size and depth of these holes can vary.
-
Crater Sized Potholes
Crater potholes are basically very large spots you will spot on roads. They are bigger as compared to regular potholes. When you drive over them, you may face serious problems. It’s more dangerous for your car tires & wheels.
-
Slab Breaks
When the flat surface of the road cracks & breaks, it causes slab breaks. They make your path uneven and rough for driving. These small cracks can turn into big potholes. Your trucks and heavy vehicles can make them worse.
-
Edge Potholes
You will notice these holes near the sides of your road. When the road boundary surface gets weak, it causes cracks along the edge. If you drive your vehicle close to these holes, it may lead to risk of accidents.
-
Alligator Cracks
Alligator cracks are a group of small cracks on your way. Majorly, you will see them on busy roads with lots of traffic. These cracks show you that the bottom pavement layer is weak. That’s why it can break at any time when you drive over them.
-
Shallow Potholes
Shallow chuckholes are small in size and not very deep. Usually, they are not harmful for you. But, if you don’t repair them, these holes can grow into dangerous holes. When you drive your car on such cracks, you will feel bumps & unsafe.
What Causes Potholes?
There are multiple reasons that form potholes on your roads. The following are major factors that really damage your routes.
1. Road Surface Aging
Over time, the top layer of road pavement gets weak and old. Plus, extreme sunlight and water also dry & harm it. This is why your road cracks more easily. These gaps may lead to potholes if you do not repair them on time.
2. Harsh Weather Conditions
Bad weather, like heavy rain, snow, and extreme heat, can damage your roads. The water can get inside tiny cracks and cause large potholes. On the other hand, hot water makes your road surface soft and breaks down the asphalt layer.
3. Low Quality Pavement
When you use poor materials and weak mixing to make pavement layers, it impacts your roads badly. Because, whenever you drive on this kind of surface, it can break down faster. Later, you will find big potholes on the road.
4. Poor Drainage
Poor drainage means that water stays on the road instead of flowing away. This water collects on the road and penetrates into surface cracks. Over time, you will see this weaken the road layer. It causes potholes to form and damage your paths.
5. Lack of Repair/Maintenance
Small cracks and holes get worse when you don’t repair them on time. Without regular maintenance, you will see these tiny spots expand. After that, they turn into very dangerous, large potholes.
6. Tree Roots
Roots of trees that are grown under roads push the surface upward. As a result, it weakens the pavement. Hence, you will notice cracks which will break apart over time and cause potholes.
7. Utility Works
When utility companies install pipes and cables in your roads, they often dig into the surface. After the work, if the road is not repaired well, this area can weaken. When you drive your vehicles over them, it creates gaps and leads to potholes.
How Do Potholes Form?
Formation of potholes is a step-by-step process. Below are five stages that show you how potholes develop on your roads.
- Water Infiltration: First of all, water will get into tiny cracks in your road. Also, rain, snow melting or washing can lead to absorption of water. This basically starts the damage inside the pavement layers.
- Water Freezes & Expands: When the temperature drops, the water inside your road will freeze. This water grows bigger and also pushes the road surface. You will see the cracks get wider. It also weakens the asphalt.
- Traffic Pressure: When you drive your cars and heavy trucks on weak roads, their weight presses the path. You will see all the small cracks spread quickly. In this way, pressure speeds up the potholes formation.
- Gaps Formation: When your road pavement layer is weak and soft, then you will see all the small pieces break off. This causes gaps on the road. As more water collects inside these gaps, damage will also be worse.
- Road Surface Breaks: At this stage, when your road is not able to handle repeated stress & damage, the surface breaks apart. You will see large and dangerous potholes formed. With time, the size of these holes will grow if not repaired.
Effects of Potholes on Roads
Potholes have several problems for roads and drivers as well as for your vehicles. They can affect your safety, comfort and reduce the life span of your road too.
Damage Your Vehicles
When your car hits deep holes suddenly, it can affect steering control. Large potholes harm your automobiles in many ways, such as damage to tires, wheels, and suspension (parts that absorb road bumps).
Crashes and Injuries
You will lose control of your car due to potholes. If you try to avoid it too fast, it may lead to a collision with other vehicles. Due to accidents, injuries can be small or may be serious, such as broken bones/damage inside your body.
Cyclist & Pedestrian Risk
The risk of a crash is higher for cyclists and motorcyclists. Because once they hit a pothole, they can fall easily due to the bounce. When you walk through damaged roads, your foot can twist or accidentally step in.
Traffic Delays
When you try to avoid potholes, it can slow down the traffic flow. Sometimes, other drivers quickly move to another lane to avoid driving over a pothole. As a result of traffic jams, you may experience lengthy delays & must wait to move.
Negative Impact on the Economy
When potholes are built on your roads, it definitely requires repair. Hence, to fix your vehicles and paths, you have to spend money. Also, many people waste a lot of time in traffic congestion, which can hurt businesses and the economy.
How To Prevent Potholes in Roads
- Check Roads Regularly: You should inspect road conditions to find small cracks. So that you can fix them before potholes are formed.
- Clear Water Drainage: You have to make sure that water can flow away from the road easily. When you clear drains, it stops water from staying on the road surface.
- Reduced Traffic Volume: When you drive fewer vehicles on the road, you put less pressure on it. This keeps your road stronger for a long time.
- Improve Road Construction Techniques: You should use better asphalt materials and methods to construct your roads. Because, a strong asphalt surface can easily handle heavy traffic & weather harshness.
- Shape Road Edge Properly: You must take care of the roadside. They should be shaped well. It prevents holes and also blocks water collection into cracks.
- Crack Sealing: It means to fill cracks in the road. When you seal small gaps, this stops water from getting inside the pavement layers.
- Prepare for Winter: You need to take all precautions before winter starts. For example: fix weak spots, clear water paths and inspections of asphalt. Because cold weather can make your roads weak & break quickly.
How To Fix Potholes in Roads (7 Easy Ways)
Throw and Go Method
This repairing technique is a fast way to fix potholes. You can fill loose material such as gravel or asphalt into the hole. After that, you should press it down quickly to cover the gap. You don’t need heavy machinery to pack it.
When you drive your car over them, it will press the materials well. Remember that, it’s a temporary fix and may not last long. With this method, you can protect your road until authorities make a permanent repair.
Fill & Roll Method
First, you have to add fresh asphalt and repair material to the pothole. With the help of heavy roller machines, you can press materials flat. This makes repairing surfaces smooth as well as strong.
Because tightly packed material can stay for a long time. It can also manage traffic load without breakdown. However, this method will take more time but gives you better results.
Layered Cold Patch Method
In the layered cold patch method, you can fix potholes without the help of heat material. By the use of cold asphalt mix, you can fill potholes in small different layers. Once you have added each layer, you must press it tightly before you add the next one.
You should always keep in mind to leave the repaired area for 24 to 48 hours. In this way, the materials will stick better. You can try this method when you need urgent repairs.
Full Road Fix Method
When your road is badly damaged and has many big holes, then you need a full road fix technique. You have to identify large potholes and mark a clear area around them. By using tools, you have to cut out cracked pavement until you find solid ground. Now, remove all dirt inside the holes and apply a sticky layer inside the pothole.
Next, fill the entire sections of road with asphalt mix (cement). If you notice a raised surface, you must press it down for a smooth finish. Finally, you can seal the edges to keep water out. You have to clean up the area and avoid the use of the surface until the asphalt hardens.
Cold Winter Mix (Cold Patching)
In this pothole repair method, you need to take a cold asphalt mixture. You must put it directly into the pothole area. However, you don’t need to melt the mix first. After you fill the hole, you should compact the asphalt down to make it firm.
This method will be your ideal choice when it’s too cold to use regular hot asphalt. It’s also a fast way to fix potholes during winters but still you have to repair the gap permanently with other ways.
Hot Summer Mix (Hot Patching)
If we talk about the hot summer mix technique, it is mostly used in the summer to repair road potholes. For this method, you have to provide heat to the mixture before use. After that, you can fill melted asphalt directly into pothole spots.
For strong repair, you must press materials strongly with machines. The hot mix can stick well and last long in the summer. You will also have a smooth and durable road surface with this process.
Spray-Injection Method
Spray-injection devices are machines that you can use to heal potholes quickly. You should clean the potholes and blow out dirt & water with an injection machine. Then, you can spray a mixture of asphalt plus small stones inside the potholes. It will stick evenly to the road. The machine also uses air pressure to press material without any heavy rolling equipment.
So, we can say that this is one of the best methods to repair your road. Because it is fast & you don’t need to close your highway lanes which lead to traffic jams during repairs.
Best Way To Driving Through Potholes
As we mentioned, potholes are dangerous for you when you hit them. That’s why you should carefully follow these steps to avoid danger and safe ride on the road.
- You should stay alert and carefully watch for potholes on the road. This gives you time to control your vehicle and avoid holes.
- Further, you must reduce your car speed to minimize the impact of potholes on your vehicle.
- You have to hold the steering wheel tightly. It helps you to control your automobile when you drive over chuckholes.
- Do not try to make an angle/turn and go straight over the potholes. In this way, you can reduce the chance of damage to your car tires.
- If your vehicle is on a pothole, you should never press the brakes. Always remember to use brakes before & after you pass a hole.
- Sometimes, when you hit potholes unintentionally, your car may produce a strange sound. If you see something wrong, you should take your car to the mechanic.
Wrapping It Up
In conclusion, you can see potholes are a major problem that causes danger for your vehicles. When you don’t maintain them, they definitely expand and risk drivers’ safety.
If you want quality repair materials for your damaged roads, you can contact JACKWIN. We will provide you with top-quality road construction equipment, road marking machine & road marking paint.
