How Winter Wreaks Havoc on Asphalt: Understanding Cold Weather Damage
Winter is brutal on asphalt surfaces, causing cracks, potholes, and overall deterioration. Cold temperatures, moisture infiltration, freeze-thaw cycles, and snowplows all contribute to pavement failure, turning small asphalt imperfections into costly repairs.
Understanding how winter conditions impact asphalt can help property owners take measures to increase the life of their pavement. In this blog, we’ll explore the key ways winter damages asphalt and share the importance of winter maintenance to protect your pavement from severe seasonal wear and tear.
Table of Contents
Thermal Contraction
Moisture Infiltration
Freeze-Thaw Cycle
Snowplow Damage
Pothole Repairs
Excavated Patches & Utility Repairs
Asphalt Curb Replacement
Cold Patch Temporary Repairs
Why Winter Asphalt Maintenance Matters & How It Reduces Liability Risks
How Does Cold Weather Damage Asphalt?
Cold weather asphalt damage is primarily due to thermal contraction, moisture infiltration, freeze-thaw cycles and snow plowing.
Thermal Contraction
Thermal contraction occurs when asphalt shrinks as temperatures drop, causing stress within the pavement. Asphalt is a flexible material, but in cold weather, it becomes more rigid and brittle. As the pavement contracts, existing cracks and weak points are pulled apart, making them larger. This process weakens the surface and increases its susceptibility to further damage.
When asphalt is exposed to repeated temperature fluctuations, the constant expansion and contraction put stress on the pavement, leading to new cracks and surface fractures. Over time, these cracks allow moisture and debris to penetrate, further deteriorating the asphalt. Roads with poor construction, insufficient base layers, or pre-existing damage are especially prone to cracking from thermal contraction.
Moisture Infiltration
Moisture infiltration occurs when water seeps into asphalt through surface cracks, gaps, and porous areas, weakening the pavement from the inside out. Asphalt is designed to be water-resistant, but over time, wear and tear create openings that allow water to penetrate below the surface. Cracks, poorly compacted areas, and deteriorated surfaces make pavement especially vulnerable to moisture infiltration.
When water enters these gaps, it begins eroding the base layers of the asphalt. This weakens the foundation, leading to soft spots, sinking, and surface degradation. Heavy traffic can further push moisture deeper into the pavement, accelerating deterioration.
Freeze-Thaw Cycle
The freeze-thaw cycle is a major cause of asphalt deterioration in winter. It occurs when water infiltrates in the pavement, then freezes as temperatures drop. When water freezes, it expands, putting pressure on the surrounding asphalt and widening existing cracks. As temperatures rise, the ice melts, allowing more water to penetrate deeper into the pavement.
This constant expansion and contraction weakens the asphalt structure over time. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles cause cracks to grow, leading to potholes, surface fractures, and overall pavement degradation.
As damage progresses, loose asphalt and crumbling edges make the surface more susceptible to traffic wear and additional moisture infiltration. Without proper maintenance, the freeze-thaw cycle can significantly reduce the lifespan of asphalt, leading to costly repairs or full resurfacing.
Snowplow Damage
Snowplows can cause significant asphalt damage by scraping, chipping, and loosening pavement surfaces—especially if the asphalt already has cracks, potholes, or weakened areas. When plow blades come into contact with uneven surfaces, raised edges, or patched sections, they can tear up loose asphalt, widen cracks, and create new fractures.
One of the most vulnerable areas is asphalt curbs. Snowplows often hit curbs while clearing roads and parking lots, causing chunks of asphalt to break off, leading to crumbling and structural failure. Repeated impacts from plows can weaken the curb’s integrity, making it more susceptible to erosion, cracking, and eventual collapse.
If the plow blade is set too low, it can grind against the pavement surface, removing the protective top layer and exposing the asphalt’s base to moisture infiltration and freeze-thaw damage. Additionally, plowed snow and ice can pack against curbs, putting pressure on weakened areas and accelerating deterioration.
Winter Asphalt Repairs
When temperatures drop, traditional asphalt repair methods become more challenging, but that doesn’t mean pavement damage has to wait until spring. Certain asphalt repairs can still be performed effectively in winter, ensuring roads, parking lots, and driveways remain safe and functional. Here’s what can be done during the colder months:
Pothole Repairs
Potholes form when moisture infiltrates the pavement surface, weakening the pavement internally. Traffic then causes sections to break apart. In the St. Louis region, potholes can be filled year-round with specialized equipment and are the most cost-efficient winter repair available. Since potholes pose a serious safety hazard for vehicles and pedestrians, they remain a high-priority repair during winter months.
Excavated Patches & Utility Repairs
Even in cold weather, excavated patches and utility cut repairs can be completed due to them being full depth repairs (repairs going down to the base rock). The thickness of these types of asphalt repairs ensures there is enough hot asphalt in the repair to sufficiently heat up the repair area, allowing for proper compaction.
Asphalt Curb Replacement
Winter is also a time when asphalt curbs take a beating from snowplows and freeze-thaw cycles. Damaged curbs can be replaced even in cold weather to maintain proper drainage and prevent further pavement deterioration.
Cold Patch Temporary Repairs
When it’s too cold to obtain hot asphalt from the plant, cold patch asphalt is used as a temporary solution for potholes. Asphalt Ninjas will apply cold patch in emergency situations, ensuring roads remain safe until the weather allows for a permanent hot asphalt repair.
Emergency Asphalt Repairs
Severe winter weather can cause rapid asphalt deterioration, creating hazardous conditions and significant liability risks for property owners. When major asphalt damage occurs in a short period, immediate action is critical to ensure safety and prevent further deterioration.
At Asphalt Ninjas, we specialize in emergency winter asphalt repairs, providing fast, reliable solutions for businesses, homeowners, and municipalities. Our team responds quickly to address potholes, cracks, and other urgent pavement issues, ensuring roads, parking lots, and driveways remain safe and drivable throughout the season. By acting quickly, you can reduce liability risks, prevent costly long-term damage, and maintain a safe environment for vehicles and pedestrians.
Why Winter Asphalt Maintenance Matters & How It Reduces Liability Risks
Winter is one of the harshest seasons for asphalt pavement, causing cracks, potholes, and surface deterioration due to cold temperatures, moisture infiltration, and freeze-thaw cycles. If not properly maintained, asphalt damage can lead to significant liability risks for businesses, municipalities, and homeowners, especially in parking lots, roads, and driveways.
Parking Lots: Protecting Customers & Avoiding Lawsuits
A damaged parking lot with potholes and cracks creates a serious safety hazard for customers, employees, and delivery vehicles. Uneven pavement and hidden ice patches increase the risk of slip-and-fall accidents or vehicle damage claims. Businesses that fail to repair asphalt hazards can face lawsuits, higher insurance costs, and reputational damage. Regular winter maintenance ensures safe, accessible parking areas for everyone.
Roads: Preventing Accidents & Vehicle Damage
Public and private roads with unrepaired potholes pose a significant danger to drivers. Vehicles can suffer tire blowouts, alignment issues, and suspension damage, leading to costly repairs and potential legal claims against the property owner or municipality. Snowplows can also worsen damage by tearing up loose asphalt, making road conditions even more dangerous. Proactively maintaining road surfaces reduces these risks and improves overall safety.
Driveways: Protecting Your Home & Guests
For homeowners, neglected driveways can lead to trip hazards and vehicle damage, increasing the risk of injury to visitors or delivery drivers. If someone trips on a pothole in your driveway, you could be held liable for their injuries. Professional asphalt maintenance helps prevent legal issues and keeps your home safe.
Conclusion: Protecting Your Asphalt All Year Round
Winter is one of the most damaging seasons for asphalt pavement. Cold temperatures, moisture infiltration, freeze-thaw cycles, and snowplow damage all contribute to cracking, potholes, and surface deterioration. Without proper maintenance, minor issues quickly escalate into major, costly repairs.
Having professional help ensures your pavement remains safe and durable throughout winter. Experts like Asphalt Ninjas use the right materials and techniques for cold-weather repairs. Professionals also identify underlying issues that DIY repairs often miss, preventing long-term damage.
Regular winter maintenance reduces liability risks, extends pavement life, and minimizes costly spring repairs. Don’t wait until small cracks turn into major damage—contact professionals to keep your asphalt strong all winter long.