How to Fix a Crumbling Asphalt Driveway

If your asphalt is beginning to show signs of wear, age, or disrepair, it is important to repair the issues in a timely manner. If you fail to do so, the problems within your asphalt surface may worsen. What may have started out as a simple fix may turn into a major repair problem. Read on to learn more about the signs of damaged asphalt and how damaged asphalt can be fixed.

Signs Your Asphalt is In Need of Repair

There are a number of signs that your asphalt may give you if it is in need of repair. Some of the signs that your asphalt may need repairs are seeing the asphalt crumble or erode away, seeing cracks in the asphalt, or seeing depressions, holes, or potholes on your asphalt surface. Another sign that your asphalt may need to be repaired is seeing water puddling or pooling on the surface. Water that is puddling or pooling instead of draining away from asphalt can cause crumbling, cracks, and depressions.

How to Fix a Crumbling Asphalt Driveway

If you notice that there is damage to your asphalt surface, such as crumbling, cracking, or depressions, you will want to call in an asphalt contractor who offers asphalt repair. The first thing that they will do is remove any debris from the surface of the asphalt. This involves removing asphalt and aggregate from cracks and potholes. Once that is done, the asphalt surface will be cleaned. Patches and fills stick best to asphalt that is cleaned. If there is debris on the asphalt, such as oil or food, it can prevent the filler from properly adhering. Once the area is free from debris and cleaned, a professional will use a filler to fill in cracks, holes, depressions, or asphalt erosion. Once the filler is in place, it will be rolled so that it is compacted and so your asphalt surface is completely level.

How to Protect an Asphalt Driveway

If you have a new asphalt surface, or if you have just had yours repaired, you may be wondering if there is anything you can do to protect the asphalt surface from damage. While you cannot prevent all types of damage, seal coating an asphalt surface helps to prevent cracking, erosion, and potholes and depressions from forming. The surface of the asphalt should be coated after a surface has been installed or repaired, and every two to three years thereafter.

Reasons to Hire an Asphalt Contractor for Asphalt Repair

If your asphalt is in need of repair, you may find yourself wondering whether you can make the repairs yourself or whether you should hire an asphalt contractor to make the repairs for you. While home improvement stores do sell asphalt patching kits that allow you to make minor repairs to your asphalt surfaces yourself, these kits generally do not solve the problem for a prolonged period of time. They may be quick fixes but they do not last. A professional can properly patch or repair your asphalt so the problem is fixed and so your asphalt functions as good as new once again.

How To Solve Commercial Sidewalk Violations in Colorado

Commercial sidewalks are identified by their colossal pedestrian volumes, active ground floors, street-facing entrances, spillovers of commercial activity, and loading-related activities. They are mostly found on commercial streets, which vary in size from significant streets to small alleys.

In Colorado, many regulations are governing residential sidewalks, commercial sidewalks, and main street sidewalks. It is essential to notice rules and sidewalk violations in Colorado controlling commercial sidewalks to avoid fines and penalties.

Six common sidewalk violations in Colorado

Commercial sidewalks in Denver are vital as they promote pedestrian safety and increase people and goods’ ease of mobility. Sidewalks also encourage business development and recreational activities.

A sidewalk violation is an official notice from the Department of Transport (DOT) stating that the sidewalk is defective and a fine or penalty made, and repairs done to meet the set guidelines. Once you are issued with a violation notice, you will be allotted 75 days to fix the sidewalk or pay the DOT to do it for you.

Below are some of the commercial sidewalk violations in Colorado:

1. Chipped Sides

Chipped sides are sides that have loose chips or serrated sides. They can hurt the feet of those walking on them by causing the user to fall or, in extreme cases, scrub the skin of pedestrians.

2. Cracked Slabs

With time, slabs are subjected to harsh weather, fluctuating temperatures, over-usage, or misuse. Due to inferior quality construction materials such as poorly mixed concrete, they develop lines of cracks or break down unevenly in extreme cases.

The cracked slabs threaten pedestrians as they could strike their feet and cause them to stumble or hurt their feet. In some cases, they could cause certain shoe types to stick in them and damage the shoes, which could evoke resentment from the shoe owners.

3. UNeven Tile Placement

During tile placement, some tiles could be placed at varying levels causing their edges to remain exposed. Such tile placements decrease the aesthetic value of the sidewalk. Those using such sidewalks could trip and get injured. Unevenly leveled slabs also cause poor drainage, which shortens the lifespan of sidewalks.

4. Metal Inlets and Sewer Covers Exposed

Many utility holes, underground maintenance lines, and sewer drainage lines are built into the sidewalk. Exposed covers and inlets of these lines can cause people to stumble as they walk on the sidewalk, especially when they rise. If they’re loose, their exposed side also poses a risk to sidewalk users.

5. Plant and Tree Growth

As trees mature, they develop more prominent and more complex roots, sometimes exposed to sidewalks. The roots can cause people to trip and fall. Furthermore, roots can crack slabs, cause the sidewalk to have chipped sides, or dislodge manhole covers. If the tree is growing close to tiles, it may dislodge the tiles from its base. Trees thus create additional three violations when they expose their roots.

6. Snow and Ice

Sidewalks can turn into dangerous places during winter. Snow and ice cause inaccessibility and discourage movement. Ice could cause pedestrians to slip and get hurt.

How to Bring the Sidewalk Back to Standards

With the correct knowledge and strategy, dealing with sidewalk violations in Colorado can be a piece of cake.

Follow these tips to deal with your sidewalk:

Dealing With Trees That Cause Violations

To deal with the tree roots causing problems, it may be advisable to remove the tree. Cutting down the tree is the first step and has to be followed by removing the stump connected to the roots damaging your sidewalk. To do this, you also have to get a permit from the city.

After removing the tree stump, you could replace the sidewalk or contact asphalt companies to quote the full replacement quotes. Also, remember to replace the tree as they too are essential for the environment.

Do a Complete Overhaul and Replace With Asphalt

Asphalt is a sturdy and uniform substance that is used to make roads and sidewalks. Replacing broken slabs, uneven or broken tiles, and chipped sides with asphalt has the following advantages:

  • Asphalt is continuous; hence any unevenness does not pose any risk to pedestrians
  • Asphalt is rugged and durable in all weathers, which means it rarely cracks, and even when cracks occur, they are minute and cannot harm pedestrians.
  • Asphalt is relatively cheap to purchase, use and also maintain.
  • Using asphalt is faster than using slabs and tiles.
  • Asphalt makes it easier to clear ice and snow during winter.

If you seek to use asphalt, it is recommended to seek certified asphalt companies in Denver. The company should handle the whole replacement process, from acquiring permits to restoring the environment after the overhaul.

Remove Ice and Snow from Sidewalks

The municipal authority of Colorado stipulates that the responsible party of a commercial property should remove ice and snow after 24 hours of snowfall and where snow is greater than 4 inches. Use salt or brine to eliminate the snow, or hire a snow removal company to do the job.

Subcontractor and Commercial Concrete Contractor : What’s the Difference?

If you are looking for someone who can help you with your upcoming concrete project, you have multiple options available. You might be considering working with a subcontractor or a commercial concrete contractor. What is the difference between these two options? What do you need to know? There are a few key points to keep in mind.

What Is a Subcontractor?

A subcontractor is a company or agent that has been hired by another contractor to help with a specific area of your project. For example, if you hire someone to help you build your house, then your home contractor might hire a subcontractor to handle the electrical work if he or she does not have experience in this area. A construction company might also hire a subcontractor to help with the driveway if he or she does not have someone on the team that can handle that job. The subcontractor reports to the original contractor, not you, if he or she has a question or payment concern. If the contractor hires subcontractors he or she is in charge of them, not you.

What Is a Commercial Concrete Contractor?

Another option is to hire commercial concrete companies. A commercial concrete contractor is someone who has specific training and experience to handle concrete needs as they relate to your project. If you want your project to be done correctly the first time around, then you should go with a commercial concrete contractor.

For example, a commercial concrete contractor will likely be up to date on the latest trends in his or her field. That way, he or she can follow all best practices to deliver the best outcome to you. In addition, if you hire a commercial concrete contractor, then that professional is going to be directly responsible and accountable to you instead of another contractor. This is the biggest difference between hiring a subcontractor and a commercial concrete contractor.

What Are the Top Benefits of Working with Commercial Concrete Companies?

If you decide to work with a commercial concrete contractor, there are a few main benefits that you are going to notice. These include:

  • A commercial concrete contractor has the specialized training and experience required to make sure that your project goes well.
  • A commercial concrete contractor will connections in the industry that he or she can use to make sure that you get the best price possible on all supplies.
  • Commercial concrete companies will also know who else to talk to if you have concerns about other areas of your project.
  • A commercial concrete company will provide you with an accurate estimate and make sure the project is done on time because he or she is accountable to you.

These are the top benefits of working with a commercial concrete contractor. You need to think about these benefits when you are deciding who to hire.

Work with a Professional Commercial Concrete Contractor

These are just a few of the many benefits of working with a commercial concrete contractor if you are looking for help with your concrete project. Make sure that you reach out to a professional commercial concrete contractor with any questions or concerns. If you work with an expert commercial concrete contractor, you will place your project in the best position to be successful.

Some Tips On New Build Soil Preparation

If you have a new project coming up, you are probably excited; however, you need to make sure the ground is ready to support the new project. One of the most important things you need to think about is the dirt on which the property will go. If the soil has not been prepared properly, you will run into issues with your project. What are a few tips you need to keep in mind in order to make sure the construction process moves smoothly? Take a look below.

Demucking The Soil

First, you need to demuck the soil. You need to dig into the soil to remove organic materials, including peat, that might be present. If there are organic materials present in the soil, it will become weak, causing the material to settle. If you remove organic soil, debris, and other types of muck, you can increase the stability of the soil. That way, you can ensure a uniform load capacity across the entire lot.

Determine the Soil Bearing Capacity

Next, you need to determine how much capacity the soil can handle. There are numerous types of soil. A few examples include silt, sandy clay, and regular clay, which are particularly weak. They can only handle about 2,000 pounds per square foot before they start to shift beneath the construction project, placing it at risk. On the other hand, sedimentary rock is incredibly strong, with the ability to withstand 6,000 pounds per square foot before it begins to buckle. All of these types of soil can show up in the same climate zone, so investigate the type of soil you are building on before the project gets started.

The Permeability of the Soil

You also need to think about the permeability of the soil. If there are gaps between the particles of soil, water and air can flow through it. Different types of soil have different degrees of permeability. The permeability of the soil plays a role in risks related to erosion, compaction, and flooding. You should hire a professional to assess the permeability of the soil because it can play a role in the success of your project.

Ensure the Stability of the Ground

Finally, you also need to think about how stable the lot is. If the lot is not stable, your foundation could fail, placing the entire building project at risk. You should think about how much weight your soil can accommodate, if there are also loose elements that need to be removed, and how deep the foundation has to be poured to support the rest of the construction project. You need to pour the foundation down to the frost line. Research this prior to the beginning of the project.

Get the Soil Ready for Your Project

These are a few of the most important tips you need to keep in mind if you are getting the soil ready for a new project. There are a lot of factors that will play a role in how quickly your project proceeds; however, you need to make sure the project gets off to a good start. You can make that happen by preparing the soil properly. Do not hesitate to reach out to trained professionals if you have questions about the soil’s readiness for your project. You should also reach out to asphalt preparation experts who can help you prepare the soil for your next construction project.

Asphalt Paving Calculator – What Goes Into The Cost Of Asphalt

If you have a project coming up that requires asphalt, you want to know how much this is going to cost. That way, you can budget accordingly. At the same time, there are a lot of factors that influence the cost of asphalt. What are a few examples?

Asphalt Grade

There are multiple asphalt grades available and each one comes with a slightly different price tag. The top asphalt grade is commonly used for roads and is the most expensive option. Base grade is usually used for lighter traffic areas and is the cheapest option. Commercial grade is in the middle and contains smooth particles and sand.

Asphalt Type

The type of asphalt you use will influence its price. For example, hot mix asphalt is the most common asphalt used in roads. This is an inexpensive option because it uses recycled materials. It is also flexible, making it easier to install. Warm mixes use fewer fossil fuels because they are heated to a lower temperature. Therefore, warm mixes are inexpensive as well. Cold asphalt doesn’t require a heating application, so it is affordable.

Asphalt Transport Distance

Distance of the project from the original location of the asphalt will also play a role. The farther the asphalt has to travel to reach the project site, the more expensive it will be. The cost of transport also depends on the weight of the asphalt material as well as its type. The heavier the asphalt is, the more expensive the transportation costs will be.

Asphalt Amount

The more asphalt you need to complete your project, the more expensive it will be. The length, width, and depth of the prepared site will all play a role. This information will be required to give you a quote on your project before you get started. The density of the asphalt mix may also influence the amount you require.

Asphalt Man Hours

Similar to any other manual project, the number of working hours will also influence the cost of the total project. The larger the project, the more time it will take. In addition, it might also require more people, driving up the cost. There will always be specific times used for curing and drying the project, so adding additional contractors can only reduce the project’s time by so much.

Asphalt Market Price

Asphalt prices can vary depending on numerous factors in the market. For example, crude oil prices, the number of current construction projects, environmental regulations, and the state of various economies will all play a role in how much asphalt costs. If you work with a professional asphalt contractor, you can time the project correctly to save money on the cost of asphalt.

The Project Type

Finally, the cost of asphalt will vary depending on the type of project you are carrying out. For example, if you are trying to repair an existing surface, you might be able to save money by simply repairing existing cracks. On the other hand, if you need to remove the existing surface and pour new asphalt, you may need to enlist the help of additional services. Your contractor should let you know exactly what you need in order to complete your project.

Find the Right Asphalt

These are just a few of the many factors that will influence the cost of asphalt. Work with a trained professional to get the highest quality asphalt at the best price possible.