Why Drainage Decides How Long Your Pavement Lasts

Water is the enemy

Asphalt itself is fairly durable. What destroys it is water reaching the stone base, softening the subgrade and letting the surface flex until it cracks.

Positive pitch

Any paved surface should shed water at roughly 1.5 to 2 percent slope. Flatter than that and you get ponding; much steeper and you get runoff problems downhill.

Edges and shoulders

Unsupported edges let water in from the side. Backfilling flush with soil or installing a curb prevents undercutting.

Downspouts

Roof water discharging onto pavement is a common and easily fixed cause of premature failure. Pipe it past the surface.

Fixing it later

Regrading existing pavement means milling or adding an overlay with a corrected profile. It's doable, but far cheaper to get right the first time.