If you own or manage a commercial property in Elizabethtown, PA, you’ve likely noticed how muggy our summers get, especially around June and July.
That thick, lingering humidity doesn’t just make the air feel heavy; it can take a serious toll on your asphalt surfaces over time.
Whether your lot sits near the bustling Elizabethtown College campus or closer to the industrial zones off Route 283, ignoring how humidity affects pavement can lead to costly repairs down the line.
Key Takeaways
- Elizabethtown’s thick summer humidity keeps asphalt damp longer, causing cracks, potholes, and surface damage to spread faster.
- Moisture trapped in shaded or low-lying areas weakens the base layers and leads to rutting and uneven surfaces.
- Constant heat and humidity dry out asphalt binders, making the surface brittle and more likely to crack under pressure.
- Shaded damp spots grow mold and algae that eat away at asphalt and make lots slippery and unsafe for people.
- Summer moisture stuck in cracks freezes during winter, worsening potholes and fragmentation through repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Is Humidity a Big Threat to Your Elizabethtown Commercial Asphalt Property?
Yes, Elizabethtown’s humidity can wreck commercial asphalt over time.
High humidity keeps asphalt surfaces damp for longer periods. Below are the key ways it affects your commercial pavement, plus the steps you can take to fight back.
Leads to Cracking and Potholes
Humidity in Elizabethtown doesn’t just sit in the air—it settles into your pavement. During muggy weeks, especially after summer storms, even small surface cracks absorb and retain moisture.
This water seeps deeper, and when temperatures shift, it expands, forcing cracks wider and breaking down the surface until potholes form. The cycle is gradual but relentless.
What to do:
- Sealcoat every 2–3 years to keep out moisture and extend surface flexibility.
- Inspect after storms or foggy mornings, especially in low spots like those near Bainbridge Street.
- Act fast on small cracks—they’re cheaper to patch before they spread into costly repairs.
Weakens the Base Layers
Humidity doesn’t stop at the surface. In shaded or poorly drained parts of your lot—common behind warehouses or near tree-lined backlots—moisture lingers.
Over time, it softens the base materials beneath the asphalt. Once the base weakens, the weight of vehicles causes depressions, rutting, and uneven surfaces that are difficult to fix without major reconstruction.
What to do:
- Evaluate drainage grading to prevent standing water near areas like Conewago Creek.
- Install or maintain French drains to redirect moisture away from the subbase.
- Rebuild weak spots using a stabilized base if you see sinking or rutted paths forming.
Accelerates Oxidation and Surface Brittleness
High heat and moisture make asphalt age faster. The binder that keeps asphalt flexible and intact begins to dry out when exposed to UV rays and humidity.
What’s left is a brittle surface prone to cracking under the pressure of daily use, especially in unshaded lots like those near the Giant Food Plaza or Route 230.
What to do:
- Sealcoat to restore oils and UV protection that slow oxidation.
- Redirect or limit heavy trucks on brittle pavement sections to reduce further stress.
- Sweep regularly to keep debris from trapping water on the surface, which speeds up degradation.
Promotes Mold and Algae Growth in Shaded, Damp Areas
In corners shaded by buildings or trees—like lots off Willow Street—humidity sticks around. These damp conditions are perfect for mold, algae, and mildew to grow, making your asphalt slick, unsightly, and vulnerable to surface decay.
Over time, the trapped moisture wears down the top layer of asphalt and creates safety hazards.
What to do:
- Power wash once a year to remove organic buildup before it spreads.
- Trim back vegetation to let sunlight and airflow help keep the surface dry.
- Apply algaecide treatments if growth returns frequently in the same areas.
Worsens Freeze-Thaw Damages
All that trapped summer moisture doesn’t just evaporate—it often stays hidden in cracks until winter. When Elizabethtown’s cold weather hits, that water freezes and expands.
The result? Widened cracks, surface fragmentation, and potholes that resurface every spring.
What to do:
- Seal cracks and reapply sealcoat in early fall—before freeze-thaw cycles begin.
- Use asphalt-safe deicers, like calcium magnesium acetate, to prevent chemical damage.
- Eliminate standing water zones, especially near curbs or in sunken areas, to minimize winter freeze damage.
Protect Your Asphalt from Elizabethtown’s Humidity
Elizabethtown’s thick summer humidity isn’t just uncomfortable—it’s quietly breaking down your asphalt day after day. Whether your property is near Elizabethtown College, along Route 230, or tucked behind a strip center downtown, moisture is the common enemy of long-lasting pavement.
With the right maintenance plan, you can stay ahead of the damage and extend the life of your lot, without wasting money on constant repairs.
At RDS Paving & Sealcoating, we help commercial property owners in Elizabethtown tackle humidity-related asphalt problems head-on. From routine sealcoating to drainage solutions and full-depth repairs, we know what works in our climate and how to keep your pavement strong.
Contact us today to schedule a site visit or request a free quote. Let’s stop humidity from wrecking your investment.
