Potholes begin forming during the cold winter months. As rainwater and melted snow begin to get absorbed by the soil underneath the pavement, the ground reacts to the water’s changes. When water freezes, it expands, and that expansion starts to cause distress on the pavement above it. When that layer of ice begins to melt, the ground contracts, eventually leading to the formation of potholes. 

While potholes begin to form with water seepage caused by freeze and thaw cycles, they are made worse by cars continually driving over the affected areas. The force of the vehicles driving at high speeds, coupled with the volume of traffic that goes over a spot in a single day, causes the severity and potential damages caused by the pothole to increase exponentially.

In warmer climates, potholes are still an issue due to rainwater, general wear and tear, and the warm summer months. Water will seep in through the cracks and get into the soil underneath. The water erodes the layers beneath the pavement, and with the constant punishment from cars and the sun beating down on the asphalt all day, potholes begin to form over time.

When dealing with large potholes in parking lots, identifying where the repairs are most needed is priority number one. If left unattended, the potholes will only continue to grow in size. As the potholes become more substantial, the higher the likelihood that pedestrians and drivers will suffer.