If you don’t have a proper asphalt maintenance program in place, high temperatures and humidity can have a detrimental effect on an asphalt structure. This is due to the fact that asphalt surfaces will absorb heat and then radiate it outwards, creating what is known as the
urban heat island effect. As the heat works on the asphalt, defects begin to appear in the surface. To make matters worse, if you experience a lot of rain (as is the case in St. Augustine), the water will infiltrate these defects and cause more damage.
Once you have both high temperatures and periodic rains, humidity starts to grow, which will then affect the subsurface layers. The humidity will allow air gaps to form, which leads to erosion without proper drainage. As you can see, the effects start to compound quickly. This is why, in order to prevent costly damages to your St. Augustine property, proper
asphalt maintenance and repair procedures are key.