The Effect of Ontario Winters on Commercial Pavement and How to Protect Your Investment
Ontario's climate is one of the most demanding environments for commercial asphalt in North America. The freeze-thaw cycle, with temperatures that oscillate above and below zero dozens of times between November and April in the GTA and Southern Ontario, is the primary mechanism of pavement deterioration in this region. Water enters existing cracks and voids in the asphalt, freezes and expands by approximately 9 percent in volume, widens the crack, thaws, and allows more water in on the next cycle. The damage compounds geometrically rather than linearly: small cracks become large cracks, large cracks become potholes, and potholes become areas of structural failure that require base repair rather than surface patching. Seal Canada provides post-winter pavement assessments for commercial clients across the GTA, Vaughan, Barrie, Hamilton, and broader Ontario, documenting the specific damage from each freeze-thaw season and prioritizing repairs before minor damage escalates. Explore S...