Resin-bound surfacing is a great pavement type, as it lets liquids run right through it, making maintenance much easier and improving safety. However, this type of surfacing still faces the same problems with cracking that all pavement encounters. Here are some reasons why resin-bound surfacing cracks and how you can avoid them.

Adjoining Substrates

Sometimes, the substrate of a pavement needs changes or add-ons. This is great for providing extra room, but it also can cause problems in the end. Different substrates have distinct curing processes, which can cause uneven results that damage the surfacing and cause cracks.

Reentrant Cracking

A common cause of cracking in resin-bound surfacing is the presence of other items that press against or into the surfacing. This causes a buildup of stress that can easily lead to cracking in the pavement. The best thing to do is to not use anything that breaks up the surfacing and leave it as one whole piece.

Bad Base

Some materials just don’t work with permeable pavement solutions and will cause lots of problems over the years. Always be sure that the materials that make your foundation are good and will match the surface. Otherwise, they’ll cause cracking as time passes.

Expanding Joints

A common place for cracking in pavement is where two pieces of foundation meet, as they can expand separately. This causes lopsided foundations and can quickly lead to breaks in your pavement. This is especially true for foundations that use induced joints, which try to prevent cracks for different types of pavements but don’t work well with resin-bound surfacing.

Base Failure

One of the worst reasons for a crack appearing in your resin-bound surfacing is a foundation failure. Whether it’s the sub-base or the base, a failure can cause lots of damage and cost a good amount of money to replace. Always ensure your base matches the pavement you put on top of it to prevent base failure as best you can.

Knowing the reasons for potential cracks in your pavement before installation means you can change out what you need to make your surfacing last as long as possible. That’s why it’s so important that you take the time beforehand to learn, as you don’t want to pay to fix the damages if you can prevent them in the first place.