By admin Asphalt Paving • Construction • • • 0 Comments

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.

By admin Asphalt Paving • • • • • 0 Comments

Concrete Crack Hazard Removal

Do you have concrete on your property? Would you like to prevent it from cracking? One of the most common complaints business owners have is that their concrete is starting to crack. They may think that the initial contract or may not have done a very good job; however, concrete is like everything else on your property. You need to take care of it if you would like it to last. How can you prevent concrete from cracking? What should you do if you notice that your concrete is starting to crack? There are several important points to consider.

Why Does Concrete Crack?

There are several reasons why concrete might be cracking. Some of the most common reasons include:

  • There might be too much water in the concrete mixture. Concrete does not require a lot of water in order to achieve its maximum strength. Excess water can reduce the strength of the concrete, leading to shrinkage. As concrete begins to harden, it shrinks. This is because excess water is evaporating. Excess water leads to more shrinkage, literally pulling the slab apart.
  • The concrete might be drying too quickly. If concrete is drying too quickly, it might not be cured properly. It is important to reach out to a professional contractor to make sure the concrete is not drying too fast.
  • There might not be any control joints in the concrete. Control joints are put in place to help the concrete crack where it should. If there aren’t any control joints, the concrete might end up cracking.

These are just a few of the many reasons why concrete might crack.

How Can You Prevent Concrete from Cracking?

There are several ways to prevent concrete from cracking. Some of the top methods include:

  • Install control joints. This will prevent the concrete from cracking in vulnerable places.
  • Always cure the concrete properly. If the concrete does not cure properly, it may begin to crack.
  • Check the water to cement ratio again. The water to cement might need to be reduced to prevent excess shrinkage.

In order to properly address this issue, you may need to reach out to a trained contractor.

What Should You Do if You Notice Concrete Cracks?

If you noticed that your concrete is beginning to crack, the first thing you should do is mark the concrete hazards. That way, people do not enter the area unknowingly, which can prevent serious injuries and accidents from taking place. Concrete crack hazards are dangerous and should be treated as such.

If you can do so safely, take a close look at the crack. Try to remove any debris that might be present. You may need to use a wire brush in order to appropriately clean the crack. You may also want to use a pressure washer if you know how to use one safely.

If you are familiar with concrete, you may be tempted to fill the crack yourself. Even though you might be able to temporarily patch it, you should rely on a trained professional for a permanent repair job.

Reach Out to Trained Professionals for Help with Concrete Cracks

Do everything you can to prevent concrete from cracking. If you work with an experienced professional, you should be able to get as much life as possible out of your concrete. If you notice cracks in your concrete, reach out to a trained professional for assistance. That way, you know the repair job is completed appropriately the first time around.

By admin Asphalt Paving • • 0 Comments

3 Things to Know About De-Icing

While snow can create the perfect scenery, icy winter asphalt opens the door for potential hazards in more ways than one. Not only can an icy driveway cause a safety risk for you and your family, but a slick walkway can open you up to liability. If someone else visiting your home were to slip and fall, you could find yourself on the undesirable end of a lawsuit.

Fortunately, you can protect your family and your guests by properly deicing your walkway and/or driveway. However, deicing involves much more than throwing salt or any ice melt all-around your driveway — this may not properly complete the task. Instead, there are several things you should know about deicing to do it properly. Continue reading to learn our top three things you should know about de-icing winter asphalt.

Get Rid of the Snow First Is the First Step to De-icing Asphalt

Even though this may seem painstakingly obvious, it’s critical you get rid of all the snow prior to starting the deicing process. Shovel as much ice and snow off of your driveway as you can. You can also try to break the ice up with a shovel to help make removal easier. If you find you can’t remove the ice through the shoveling method, lay down a deicer, which can be found at almost any hardware store. As you are choosing deicers, make sure you consider where you will be putting it. Some deicers are hazardous to pets, plants, water supplies, and masonry. This means that some deicers could require you to call an asphalt company for repairs over extended use. If you have any concerns, look for a more environmentally-friendly deicer.

Ice Evenly & Correctly When De-Icing Asphalt

If you are fortunate enough to have a handheld spreader or wheeled spreader, you can save a lot of time and effort by using it. This piece of equipment will evenly coat the ground with ice melt or salt and will take much less time than doing it by hand. However, if all you have are your hands, that will have to do — unless you have a cup, and everyone has one!

Even if you’re deicing with a cup, you should still wear gloves because most deicers are made up of chemicals. You can also use a bucket, so you don’t have to lug a big bag of ice melt or snow around. In either case, spread it evenly. If you place too much in one area, simply grab some water or a broom to spread it out. Besides, using more deicer in one area will not make the snow melt any quicker. And the more deicer you unnecessarily use, the more likely you are to cause damage to your landscape. Keep in mind that snow does not melt ice. It does, however, lower the boiling point of water. Because the majority of ice does have a thin layer of water, the salt mixture will cause a chain reaction that helps expedite melting ice— even in cold temperatures.

Sand and Gravel Can Help with Icy Winter Asphalt

Sand and gravel are also regularly used on driveways that are icy. It’s important to understand that sand and gravel will not actually melt the ice. It will provide a safer environment by increasing traction for drivers and walkers. Although this can be a very effective solution, the best way to protect your home and property is to remove the ice completely. Many people who are concerned about the environmental impact of deicers choose to combine the sand with the deicer to make a mixture. In doing so, you can reduce the impact of using deicing chemicals alone.

By admin Hauling & Delivery • • • 0 Comments

Superior Aggregates Local Delivery & Hauling

Superior Aggregates is one of Colorado’s most experienced aggregate suppliers and now offers timely delivery services. We can deliver what you need, whether the task is paving an entirely new road, patching and repairing and old one, or installing a new landscaping design at a commercial or residential property. Our aggregate offerings and timely deliveries ensure you can get work done quickly, efficiently and affordably by contacting Superior Aggregates to get the job done.

Support for Local Landscaping Services

Many local landscaping services send crews with trucks to go collect aggregate, which means a lot of work is not getting done while out getting the materials needed for the job. Our local delivery service removes the need for local landscaping services to waste time obtaining the materials they need when we can send them directly to your work site.

We can deliver a wide range of commonly used hardscaping and aggregate materials, including:

  • Concrete and masonry sand for walkways, edgings and other landscaping architectural elements.
  • Pea gravel, river rock, crushed granite and similar materials for a variety of landscaping needs.
  • Fill dirt, soil products and compost for installing yards and doing smaller outdoor landscaping projects.
  • Mulch, bark, woodchips and other bedding items that enable drainage while suppressing weeds.

You can schedule one or more loads and have them arrive before you need them so that your work crews always have the landscaping material needed to get the job done correctly and quickly. That maximizes your profit potential while reducing your need for trucks and workers to dive them to and from our aggregate site.

Local Hauling Services

We have a full range of great trucks with lift beds that can handle any aggregate load you might need. Our drivers are licensed and trained in CDL procedures and can bring your aggregate order to your work location and deposit it exactly where you need it with our convenient local hauling services. That saves you a lot of time by keeping your workers onsite and busy while the materials you need arrive when and where you need them.

When we do the hauling to your site, you do not have to worry about potential accidents and related costs. No catastrophic accidents will cause your business to suffer a potentially devastating financial setback, and you do not have to cover the costs of commercial truck insurance for the loads that you have delivered. We take care of all of that while eliminating your business risk.

Commercial and Residential Support

It does not matter what the purpose of your project might be. We have the type of aggregate you need to do it right. Someone paving an asphalt parking lot, installing a driveway or rebuilding a public road can benefit from the right aggregate arriving at exactly the right time to keep your crews continuously working and onsite. We can deliver recycled concrete, recycled asphalt, road base and concrete mix to any road-building project or similar commercial project and help you to save money while getting the material you need for the task at hand.

Contact Superior Aggregates for Your Sand and Gravel Needs

You can call Superior Aggregates, send up an online message or stop by our office in Lafayette to learn more about al the great aggregate material and delivery services that we provide. We proudly serve the greater Lafayette area and nearby communities.

By admin Construction • • • • 0 Comments

5 Planning Tips for Property Managers

Managing real estate can be a great way to earn a living. While there will always be a demand for property managers in the real estate industry, there are many important tasks that a property manager has to keep up with. One very important task that they need to follow is to keep up with the maintenance and repair for their concrete. While a asphalt and concrete can last for a long time, it does require some upkeep along the way. Eventually, the property will need either a new overlay or repairs to the existing concrete. There are five planning tips that a property manager should follow when going through this process.

Schedule and Prepare for the Consultation

If you have a property that you are looking to improve or notice that there are cracks or other wear and tear in the paving, it is important to have it checked out by a concrete and asphalt paving company as soon as you can. When you have one of these companies come out they will be able to provide a full consultation. This will include providing an assessment of the condition of your pavement and an analysis of what forms of remediation are available.

Once you have scheduled the consultation, you will need to prepare for it. This process will include clearing the pavement as much as possible and walking it to identify areas of concern that should be inspected. You should also questions prepared to ask your consultant when they arrive.

Review and Hone Your Budget

The cost of pavement projects can vary considerably from one to the next. It is important to have a good sense of what your project and future maintenance costs will be. You should assess your property budget regularly to ensure there are reserves available to pay for these costs.

Devise a Long-Term Maintenance Schedule

A maintenance schedule for any asphalt or concrete surface should also be put in place. Some forms of maintenance that are needed will include cleaning and reapplying sealer, cleaning up any spilled oil or stains as soon as possible and using chemicals that will not harm the concrete. Doing all of this will extend the life of your pavement.

Schedule Regular Site Inspections

Even if you stay current with your maintenance needs, you should stil inspect it regularly. A concrete inspector will be able to carefully check over your concrete to see if there are any cracks or other areas of concern. Based on these inspections, you may notice deferred maintenance items that can be fixed before turning into larger problems.

Choose the Right Commercial Paving Contractor  

One of the most important tips that you can follow for any pavement job is choosing the right contractor. There are likely a variety of asphalt and concrete companies in your local area to choose from. When you are looking for a contractor, you should do some research online to get a sense of consumer reviews. It would be a good idea to get a sense of their reputation for quality work, staying within budget, getting the work done on time and providing good customer service.

When researching contractors, you should also meet with at least a few different options. This will allow you to get multiple opinions and quotes, which could then be compared to select the best deal. Prior to signing any contract you should also get a current copy of their license and insurance.