In New Jersey, the ground beneath your parking lot or driveway can hide serious threats to your asphalt's longevity — especially underground water issues.
If you pave over these hidden problems without properly addressing them first, you're setting your asphalt up for premature failure, expensive repairs, and avoidable liability risks.
At FixAsphalt.com, we've seen it firsthand on projects across NJ—from Monmouth County to Bergen County to South Jersey. Here’s what every property owner, manager, and builder needs to know:
New Jersey's diverse geography presents a unique set of challenges for construction and paving projects, particularly due to its varied soil compositions and environmental conditions. Areas characterized by clay soils, elevated water tables, and inadequate drainage systems are especially susceptible to complications arising from underground water.
These conditions create an ideal scenario for water to accumulate beneath the surface, posing significant threats to the integrity of pavement structures. Even when the surface appears dry and stable at the onset of paving activities, hidden moisture can begin to compromise the foundational structure from the very first day. This latent moisture, if not identified and effectively managed prior to paving, can lead to a cascade of serious issues that jeopardize the longevity and safety of the pavement.
The presence of underground water, when left unaddressed, can result in a range of detrimental effects, including structural instability, surface degradation, and increased maintenance costs, ultimately undermining the entire paving project.
Water trapped below asphalt weakens the sub-base, creating movement and instability.
As vehicles drive over these weak spots, stress cracks appear. Over time, these small cracks spread and connect, forming the familiar "alligator cracking" pattern — a sure sign of base failure.
Soft, wet subgrade soils cannot adequately support the weight of asphalt and vehicles.
The pavement begins to settle unevenly, creating low spots, birdbaths, and eventually potholes.
In severe cases, sections of the pavement can completely collapse, forming dangerous sinkholes.
Moisture moving upward through the asphalt causes premature oxidation, making the surface brittle faster than it should. Combined with New Jersey’s freeze-thaw cycles, this moisture expands and contracts seasonally, causing rapid erosion and surface breakdown.
When underground water isn’t addressed before paving, you enter a frustrating (and expensive) cycle:
Cracks form
Potholes appear
Emergency patching is needed
Cracks spread
Full removal and replacement is eventually required — years earlier than normal.
What should have been a 20–25 year pavement lifecycle now becomes a 7–10 year headache.
At FixAsphalt.com, we follow a proven process to protect your investment:
✔️ Site Evaluation: We inspect for signs of soft subgrade, drainage issues, and water movement.
✔️ Soil Stabilization: If needed, we excavate poor soils and replace them with proper stone bases or geotextile fabrics.
✔️ Drainage Solutions: French drains, underdrains, or grading adjustments help redirect groundwater away from the pavement structure..
Learn more about how underdrain / french drains solve underground water issues before paving: CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE.
Paving over underground water issues is like building a house on a swamp.
It might look fine at first, but it’s only a matter of time before major failures happen—and when they do, they cost far more to fix than addressing the problem properly upfront.
If you suspect groundwater problems on your site—or if you're planning a paving project anywhere in New Jersey—it’s critical to work with an experienced contractor who knows how to protect your pavement from the ground up.
At FixAsphalt.com, we don’t just pave over problems—we solve them.
📞 Contact us today for a free site evaluation and expert recommendations for long-lasting, durable pavement solutions.