Water plus freezing is the whole story

Water gets into the base through cracks and edges. When it freezes it expands, lifting the pavement. When it thaws the support disappears and traffic punches through. That cycle repeats dozens of times each New England winter.

What we do about it

• Build bases that drain instead of holding water

• Seal and repair cracks before winter, not after

• Grade so water leaves the surface quickly

• Rebuild failed sections properly instead of filling potholes forever

Spring is when the winter’s damage becomes visible. It is also the best time to have someone honest look at it before it spreads.

If you are weighing this on your own property in Hadley, Amherst, Northampton, or anywhere else across the Pioneer Valley, call A&M Construction Enterprises at (413) 374-5714. We will walk the site with you, tell you plainly what the ground is doing, and put an honest written scope together. We answer the phone and we will tell you when the work can wait as readily as when it cannot.

What to do in March and April

Walk your property after the thaw and photograph what you find. Small cracks can be sealed cheaply before summer heat opens them further. Potholes at entrances and turning areas should be cut out and patched properly rather than filled with bagged mix that pops out by June. If you find soft spots that move underfoot, the base is compromised and a surface repair will not hold. Spring is diagnosis season; scheduling the fix early usually means better pricing before the season books up.