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How Asphalt Gets Damaged: When to Contact an Asphalt Company for Repairs

An asphalt driveway or parking lot can last for years, but eventually you will need to contact an asphalt company for a replacement or repair. Asphalt gets damaged over time from temperature extremes, general wear and tear, spills on the asphalt, and when equipment is parked on the asphalt that is too heavy. There are a number of reasons to have your asphalt repaired, and it’s important to understand when it’s time to call for help to protect the longevity of your driveway or parking lot.

Temperature Extremes and Excessive Storms

When you live in an area that experiences temperature extremes, this can wreak havoc on your asphalt surfaces. Your asphalt will expand during hot weather, and contract slightly when the weather is freezing. This will eventually cause cracks in your asphalt that will need to be repaired. During heavy storms, your asphalt can get damaged by falling debris, and even hail storms when the hail is large enough. If you notice damage to your asphalt after a storm, you will want to have an asphalt company come to assess the damage.

Freezing Temperatures and Cracking

If water gets below the surface of your asphalt driveway or parking lot and freezes, this is going to cause frost heaves on your asphalt to form. When the ice develops, it is going to push up sections of your asphalt if there is enough water. This is why you address cracks in your asphalt immediately, so that water can’t get below the surface and cause frost heaves. Asphalt companies will work with you to address any cracks that develop before they can cause further damage to your asphalt.

Heavy Equipment and High Traffic Areas

Heavy equipment can lead to damage to your asphalt surfaces, especially when the equipment is parked for any length of time. In areas where you have substantial traffic, you may see your asphalt wear down faster than in areas where few cars travel. If you find indentations or cracks from heavy equipment that was parked on your asphalt, you will want to get this repaired. When you have indentations, this is going to ruin the structural integrity of your asphalt surface.

Oil and Chemical Spills on Your Asphalt

If you find an oil spill on your asphalt surface, this needs to be cleaned up right away. Chemical spills should be handled by asphalt companies with the experience you want to stay safe during the cleanup process. Oil and other chemicals can damage the asphalt, and cause you to need a parking lot or driveway replacement earlier than expected. Always have spills cleaned up immediately to avoid damage to your asphalt.

Asphalt companies can come to assess any damage to your parking lot or driveway when you believe there is damage to your property. Don’t ignore cracks, as these can let in water that may eventually freeze. Pay attention to any spills on your asphalt, and get these professionally cleaned up as needed. When you take good care of your asphalt surfaces, you should be able to avoid an early replacement. Looks for cracks, and call for help from asphalt companies when you need it.

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Asphalt Paving Services You Need And When to Get Them

While it’s true that asphalt pavement and other surfaces are inherently durable, that doesn’t mean that you can go years without routine maintenance and expect to avoid issues. As is true with all types of surfaces, you need to take proactive steps to stop a small problem today before it has a chance to become a bigger (and likely more expensive) one tomorrow.

Case in point: understanding the differences between the various asphalt paving services that are available will help you learn more about why they’re so important and when you should have each one performed.

Sealcoating

Due to the fact that your asphalt driveway is almost constantly exposed to water and other weather-related elements, sealcoating is often recommended. This is when you seal the surface of the asphalt pavement to protect it from moisture, erosion, fading, and other issues.

Generally speaking, this should become part of your regular maintenance regimen – so expect to have it performed every few years or sooner.

Cracksealing

As the name suggests, cracksealing is when you use a special type of adhesive sealant that is designed to both fill and properly seal any cracks that have developed on the surface of your pavement. Having this performed can also help slow down deterioration, which goes a long way towards increasing the overall lifespan of your asphalt as well.

This type of asphalt paving service is fairly straightforward – you’ll need to have it performed whenever you see cracks begin to develop. Even something very small that may be hard to see without careful examination would still be a cause for action.

Striping and Marking

Especially when you’re talking about a public, commercial space like a parking lot, it’s essential to make sure markings are as clear as possible. When people know where they’re expected to park, they tend to do so properly – thus avoiding accidents and other issues down the road.

A lot of people don’t realize that striping and marking isn’t something that you “do once and forget about.” Daily sun exposure will absolutely cause things to fade overtime. The harder those markings are to see, the more likely you are to be found liable in the event of an accident.

Therefore, this is a call you’ll need to use your best judgment to make. If you’re having a hard time seeing the parking marks, everyone else is, too – which is when you should enlist the help of professional to correct the issue.

Asphalt Repairs

Overall, there are a number of general asphalt repairs that people can expect as wear and tear runs its course. In addition to cracks in the surface of the asphalt itself, you may deal with potholes, dull or faded coloring, warping, areas that sink lower than they should, and even drainage issues. You’ll also want to be on the lookout for any type of tripping hazard. Be especially mindful after severe weather instanes.

These are the types of asphalt repairs that will typically be completed on an as-needed basis, although preventative maintenance is always encouraged.

If you’d like to find out more information about the various asphalt paving solutions that are available and when you might need each one, or if you’d just like to talk to an experienced team of asphalt contractors about your upcoming project in a bit more detail, please don’t delay – contact us today.

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Highways Designed with Snow and Cold in Mind

One of the more critical things to consider when it comes to asphalt construction is also one of those things that most people just don’t spend too much time thinking about: the climate.

An asphalt highway in an area that is traditionally hot all year round like Texas may look the same as one that exists in Maine – at least on the surface. But the latter is located in a place that gets particularly cold winters and that is something that absolutely has to be taken into account. In fact, there are a number of important components to highways that are designed with snow and cold in mind that you should absolutely be aware of moving forward.

Temperature Extremes

One of the major ways that highways are designed with snow and cold in mind has to do with what happens to materials like asphalt during extreme changes in temperature.

Keep in mind that materials expand and contract as the weather changes around them and unless this is accounted for, it could result in significant cracking at best and a serious compromise to the integrity of the highway at worst. In Bangor, Maine, for example, the leverage low in January is just 7 degrees Fahrenheit. By April, the average high is 53 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s a significant difference and over time that could cause premature and long-term damage to the highway itself if it were not a factor in the design.

Drainage

Because asphalt is porous, it actually performs better than other types of materials in colder weather. However, this comes with a cost. Because the ice and snow melts faster, drainage has to be a top priority.

Thankfully, PVC drain piping (and a layer of gravel under the surface) go a long way towards accomplishing these goals. Not only does it help keep the highway safe, but it also reduces the overall amount of salt that needs to be used to treat the roads during the winter as well.

Fencing Around Asphalt

Snow fencing is another technique that is commonly used to preserve safety and performance for highways that are located in areas that get a lot of snow. Snow fencing can actually be put up as the colder weather approaches, and it’s a great way to prevent drifts from appearing on the road, thus putting drivers in a significant amount of harm during extreme storms.

Road Slope and Bridge Design

Finally, a lot of people don’t realize that even the pitch of the road is taken into consideration in areas that see a lot of ice and snow during the cold winter months. Highways in rural areas, for example, have a banked curve of no more than 5% to help prevent issues like sliding. Bridges on these highways are also constructed with a protective coating to help prevent premature corrosion due to the massive volumes of road salt that get used every year as the temperatures start to drop and ice builds up.

If you’d like to find out more information about the various factors that are considered when experts design an asphalt highway with snow and cold in mind, or if you’d just like to talk about the finer points of asphalt construction with someone in a bit more detail, please feel free to contact us today.

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What’s the Difference Between Summer Asphalt and Winter Asphalt?

There are many reasons why so many homeowners choose asphalt to pave their driveways, patios, and other outdoor hard surfaces. Not only is it cost-effective, but asphalt is durable, flexible, easy to repair, and is low maintenance. An asphalt driveway can easily last 30 years before needing replacement.

But, how long an asphalt surface lasts depends on the asphalt company you choose and the asphalt mix (or aggregate) the contractor uses – summer asphalt or winter asphalt.

When is the best time to install asphalt?

The optimum temperature for an asphalt installation is when the temperature is between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the temperature at which asphalt cures the fastest.  But, a good asphalt company can install an asphalt driveway at any time of the year, if they use the right asphalt mix.

Still, timing is important. During the winter, the asphalt company will want to avoid freeze/thaw cycles (for obvious reasons). And, during the summer, asphalt is rarely laid fresh during the portion of the day when the sun’s UV rays are the strongest.

But when it comes to temperature, asphalt manufacturers have developed different formulations to suit each season. There is a summer asphalt (hot mix aggregate) that works better during the higher temperatures of this season. And, winter asphalt (or cold mix aggregate), is designed to be installed during the low temperature months of December through March.

Best Uses for summer asphalt

From spring to the end of fall, summer asphalt is heated to temperatures between 275-325 degrees Fahrenheit, and it is important that the hot asphalt stays within that temperature range as it is being quickly applied. If it cools too much, it should be reheated. Also, the ground surface needs to be warm and dry for an ideal summer asphalt application.

This aggregate is not only best to be applied during warm months, summer asphalt is also better suited for long driveways, commercial parking lots, and public roads.

Winter asphalt applications

Winter asphalt is best for wet and/or cold weather applications. This formulation does not need to be heated constantly in order for the asphalt to adhere well to the subsurface. But, because winter asphalt is poured when the surface is cold, it will take longer to cure.

Still, you can mix and use a batch of winter asphalt and save the remainder for driveway or repairing cracks in your driveway or street patch jobs at any time. While winter asphalt is not ideal for large asphalt installations, it is an easy and economical way to keep your driveway looking pristine when repairs are needed.

For smaller jobs and when you simply want to even out your existing driveway surface for a safer, smoother driveway, then winter asphalt is the go-to choice.

When you partner with a professional asphalt company, they will know exactly the right type of aggregate mix to use, what time of day is best, and in what weather conditions will provide for the best driveway installation. Most driveways in America are paved with asphalt because it creates a skid-resistant surface, which makes your driveway safer to walk and run on. Also, an asphalt surface is smoother and more uniform than other materials.

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6 COMMON CAUSES BEHIND PARKING LOT BREAKDOWN

If you’re the owner or manager of a building with a parking lot, you may have noticed that it’s starting to show signs of wear. An asphalt parking lot is exposed to several elements that can cause severe damage over time.

1. Harsh Weather Conditions

Freezing temperatures can cause water from rain and snow to freeze, causing micro cracks in the asphalt to expand. Over time, this will cause the surface of the parking lot to crumble.

2. Dirt, Debris, or Engine Oil Spills

Just about any type of dirt or debris can trap moisture, preventing it from evaporating or draining properly. Even oil and other non water substances can be absorbed by the asphalt coating on a parking lot. Over time, this moisture seeps into the asphalt, causing fissures as the temperature drops and the moisture freezes.

3. Poor Drainage System

A faulty or clogged drainage system will prevent water from draining properly. Water that ponds on top of the asphalt can cause a number of problems. In addition to the aforementioned freezing and cracking, the debris, oil, and acids that are trapped by puddles of water can wear away at the asphalt covering of a parking lot. Be aware that in addition to fixing the damage that has been done by the standing water, a property owner will also need to fix the drainage system. This may be as simple as removing debris from drain inlets, but it may also require reconstruction of pipes, outlets, and/or drain fields.

4. Low-Quality Sealants

If a parking lot was never sealed properly by the original asphalt contractors it will likely start to deteriorate much faster than one that was properly sealed. An improperly sealed parking lot will have a lot of cracks as the underlying gravel layers will be exposed to the elements. This means that over time the asphalt coating will wear away and the gravel underneath will be exposed. If the parking lot is in regular use, this will mean that the rocks in this layer will become scattered and uneven. Eventually, parking lots in this state may need to be completely rebuilt, not just resealed.

5. Heavy Vehicles or Machinery

Heavy machinery and other equipment puts a large weight load on the asphalt and gravel layers of a parking lot. Depending on the type of soil the parking lot has been built on, heavy equipment will compact the gravel layers under the asphalt and cause cracking in the top layer of asphalt. In fact, it’s not uncommon for layers under the asphalt to deform without there being any immediate indication of damage. This is because the top layer of asphalt has a small amount of flexibility, allowing heavy equipment to rest on its surface without showing cracks. Under the surface, however, the newly compacted gravel layers will form gaps between the asphalt and the gravel. Over time, this will lead to deformation of the entire parking lot.

6. General Neglect

When a parking lot has been neglected for a long time, it’s likely that it will have all of these problems. Lack of maintenance will cause clogged drainage systems, which will result in an increase in debris and other build up on the surface of the parking lot. Over time, this will result in large parts of the parking lot crumbling and cracking.