Asphalt repair guide

Why Potholes Form in Grand Junction Asphalt

Potholes usually start before the hole is obvious. Water, cracks, traffic, weak edges, base movement, and freeze-thaw cycles can all work together until a driveway or parking lot surface breaks apart.

Water is usually part of the problem

When water gets into cracks or under asphalt, the base can soften or move. Traffic then pushes on unsupported pavement, which widens cracks and breaks loose pieces of asphalt. Low spots, poor drainage, clogged edges, and water running across the same area can speed up the damage.

Freeze-thaw movement can widen small cracks

Grand Junction weather can swing between warm sun and cold nights. When moisture enters cracks and temperatures drop, expansion and contraction can make small openings worse. Once cracks connect, the surface can turn into alligator cracking, loose aggregate, potholes, or edge failure.

Traffic and edges matter

Heavy vehicles, trailers, delivery trucks, trash trucks, and turning tires can stress weak pavement. Parking lot entrances, dumpster areas, loading zones, and driveway edges often fail first because traffic concentrates there. Unsupported edges near gravel, dirt, or drainage paths can break down faster than the middle of the pavement.

When to request repair

Request repair when potholes are growing, water is sitting in broken areas, customers or tenants are complaining, snow removal catches on the surface, or cracks are spreading quickly. For localized issues, see pothole repair. For broader pavement failure, review repair vs resurfacing before deciding what kind of estimate to request.