
Catch Basin Repair: Catching it early is Half the Battle!
Catch basins are an integral part of a city’s
drainage system – safely and effectively taking surface water from storms and
melted ice – moving it into our underground sewer system. These areas are prime
candidates for failure given the intense concentration of water flowing through
the surrounding graded surface area to the basin’s mouth. While asphalt failure
and other related moisture issues begin below the surface, recognizing and
reacting to early symptoms will often make your catch basin repair project far
less disruptive to the property and less impactful to your budget.
Catch Basin Symptoms to Watch For
i.
Cracks or Holes around the Catch Basin Cover
Identifying surface
asphalt cracks adjacent to a catch basin is an early warning. It's a sign that water has started to erode the asphalt and to a degree, it should be
appreciated– It's an opportunity to save you money by using a pavement solution
specialist to stop the damage from escalating. Water will collect in the
cracks. Moisture will settle; then freeze, expanding and contracting over time.
Eventually the cumulative effect will develop a sink hole. A crack is much more cost-effective to fix than a sink hole so act promptly. Just like all other
maintenance, the sooner the problem is addressed the more positive the
impact on ROI over time.
ii.
Raised Catch Basin Cover – If the catch basin has become raised above the
surrounding surface level asphalt, it’s highly recommended that you bring in a
pavement repair professional to assess the condition of the surface and most
importantly the risk of further more serious deterioration if it’s left
unattended to. Raised catch basin covers represent a potential public liability
concern from a tripping accident, and the risk of seasonal or severe weather
flooding is tremendously increased with lower drainage function of the raised
sewer opening. Consistent flooding and surface water settling around the catch
basin will most definitely accelerate further damage and increase the
inevitable repair or reconstruction project costs.
iii.
Sunken Catch Basin Cover – More common in parking lots, this failure is
generally a result of older systems that used a stone base. Longer term
settling or water erosion can cause the system to sink. If left in disrepair, the
failure would continue to worsen until requiring the replacement of the entire
drain.
Catch
Basin Repair Considerations
When doing an asphalt repair to surface areas surrounding catch basins, contractors should ensure proper compaction of the materials, or density. The areas surrounding the catch basin will face the most water flow throughout the year– whether it's due to seasonal changes or intense storms. Having inadequate density will eventually allow moisture
to seep into more porous areas of the surface. Once water penetrates the asphalt, it will eventually erode it and form cracks to
which water will consistently fill, freeze, expand and contract; deepening and
broadening the cracks over time. As the cracks proliferate, they network
together and their cumulative effect forms what is called "Alligator cracking”
At this point simple crack filling is no longer an effective repair option.
Ensure your pavement repair contractor uses only
heavy duty vibratory rollers to compact the regions around your catch basin.
Pay close attention to seams and ensure their ‘finish’ is diligent and
thorough and pick a contractor who will back their work with industry leading warranty. Contact us today to see what we can do to help with your asphalt maintenance needs.
‘Fast
and loose’ work might help this quarter’s repair budget, but in the long run,
you’ll get what you pay for.