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Why Is Drainage Important for Asphalt Pavements?

If you’re planning on building a parking lot or sidewalk, one of the most important things that you need to consider is drainage. Unfortunately, this is often overlooked because it’s not something you can see when you look at a parking lot. Water is the number one culprit in deteriorating asphalt, but with proper planning, you can avoid water damage and deterioration, and ensure the longevity of your site.

Warning Signs of Poor Drainage

If your parking lot has a weak drainage system, it’s pretty evident not too long after your project is complete. If your site has poor drainage after completion, a few of the warning signs you may experience include:

  • Stagnant water pooling in areas, and running down the lot
  • Evidence of rock, sand, or dusty residue in low spots indicated that the water is breaking down the asphalt
  • Water coming through exterior walls and structures

What happens if your site doesn’t include drainage?

Without proper drainage, the longevity of your site and structure will decrease rapidly. Poor drainage can lead to damaged exterior walls, cars, pedestrians, infect local water resources, and penetrate the asphalt’s surface. As standing water penetrates the asphalt, it gets into the subsoil and weakens the base causing cracks. If you want to ensure that your pavement is durable and longlasting, make sure that your asphalt company incorporates appropriate drainage planning into your project.

Drainage Features for Consideration During Planning

When planning proper drainage for your asphalt paving project, there are a few features that you need to take into consideration for your install. Your asphalt company should be able to provide you with an analysis and assessment of your site and present you with the best drainage options for your particular needs. Here are a few areas of consideration that your asphalt company will address during planning.

Slope

If your site is level and prime for pooling water, your planning should include creating a hill. A slight slope (2% grade) in your parking lot or sidewalk allows the water to flow to the outside and not pool in the middle.

Water Direction

Your drainage system should be designed to direct the water away from the exterior walls and create a path to exit appropriately. You need to make sure that water has a place to go that isn’t in your parking lot!

Asphalt Curbing

Including curbing in your planning and design can help you direct water into grassy areas, by providing a tunnel through the curb line. At the end of the curb line, you’ll have installed a drainage point.

Drains & Inlets

Strategically placing drains and inlets around your site gives water an appropriate place to go. Drains and inlets work well with slopes, directing contaminated water.

Pollution Control

Water coming out of parking lots and sidewalks can pick up a variety of pollutants as it flows through your site. Proper drainage planning includes consideration of where the water’s final destination is. It should be in a place that will not infect the water system and disposed of appropriately.

Planning the construction of a parking lot or sidewalk can be a lot of work, but unless you want to deal with numerous maintenance issues like cracks and breaks, make sure that drainage planning is part of your process before your asphalt pavers show up. Not only will it save you a ton of money in upkeep, but it ensures that your investment is built to last and endure for the longterm.

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Why Does New Construction Need Asphalt Paving?

First off, what is asphalt? Asphalt is an aggregate of gravel, stone, sand, and other materials bound together by asphalt cement. According to the experts of The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), along with many others, there are a number of qualities of asphalt which make seeing your asphalt contractor the best choice for new construction of all types.

Durability

The smoothness of the surface helps give a roadway a longer life span, because it reduces friction from the tires that roll across it. It also makes asphalt a more efficient material to pave with, because it needs replacement less often. If properly maintained, an asphalt surface can last 25 years or longer.

Ease of Repair

While asphalt lasts a very long time, when it does need replacement or repair, that repair is comparatively easy and quick to do. For example, roadways can be paved a lane at a time by the asphalt contractor, reducing inconvenience to drivers and saving money for taxpayers.

Safety

Asphalt produces a smooth, even surface for activities such as driving. This, along with these other factors, make it the surface of first choice for roadways, parking lots, paved paths, driveways, and many other applications. The smooth surface gives better traction and contact for tires of all sorts, making it safer to drive on.

Recyclable

Asphalt is the perfect “green” paving material choice for use by the asphalt contractor. It is 100% recyclable and reusable. NAPA estimates that 100 million tons of asphalt are recycled or reused each year. And since much of asphalt used is reclaimed, that means the cost is less susceptible to market fluctuations.

Environmentally Friendly

The combination of recyclability and permanence as a resource makes asphalt paving one of the most environmentally friendly products there is. Another statistic from the NAPA: The asphalt emissions since 1970 have decreased by 97%, while asphalt production, during the same period, has increased by 250%. The smoothness of the surface reduces automobile emissions as well. Porous asphalt is often used for stormwater management. Asphalt is also utilized to line and cap landfills.

Economical

Almost all of the factors listed above mean that asphalt paving is a more economical substance to pave roadways, driveways, parking lots, or any other area where a smooth surface is desired. Asphalt lasts longer, so is replaced less often. This makes it less expensive. When it is replaced, the fact that much of it is often made from recyclable materials makes it less susceptible to current market conditions.

The Best Surface

To sum it all up, numerous qualities of asphalt paving make it the best surface for roadways, driveways, parking lots, and almost any other paved area. Certainly, the fact that it is economical should interest anybody who is planning any type of paving job. So should its durability, which figures into it being cost efficient as well. Also, there’s the fact that asphalt simply makes a great surface for vehicles to drive on. Its smoothness produces better gas mileage and your tires make better contact, which means it’s safer. And, not only does asphalt need repair less often than other materials, it is easy, inexpensive, and convenient to repair when the need does arise. Asphalt is also usually 100% recyclable. All these advantages mean your asphalt contractor can do the job better than anyone else, usually at lower cost, and it’s beneficial for the planet as well.

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Repair Denver’s Harsh Winter Damage with Asphalt Repair

People from Colorado will undoubtedly tell you that while winters in the Rocky Mountains are no-nonsense, winter in Denver gets terrible. Even though the snow is considerable, the comparatively moderate winter is excellent for outdoor activities such as snowshoeing, snowboarding, skiing, and other outdoor recreation. Spring skiing and fuzzy snow aside, winter weather does not have to be much harsh to cause asphalt damage.

Moisture and cold can cause damage to concrete and asphalt structures – if you take long to safeguard your asphalt, it will get harder to repair it. Thankfully, several Colorado asphalt repair professionals can help you in protecting your asphalt from the harsh winter damage.

How Does Extreme Weather Affect Asphalt?

Asphalt is prone to the impacts of water damage resulting from extreme weather conditions, which means tons of snow and freezing temperatures in Denver. Luckily, with preventive measures and routine maintenance from Denver asphalt repair professionals, you can make sure that your asphalt remains strong as the mountain rocks.

Effects of Cold & Moisture on Asphalt

When water from ice and snow filter through the porous surface of your asphalt, it gradually erodes the structural purity of the asphalt. However, the actual damage happens when the outside temperatures go below the freezing point. When water freezes, it expands. The moisture contained in asphalt only requires a single freezing day to crack due to the strain of the expanding ice and water.

Effects of UV Rays on Asphalt

Denver city is one mile high, and that means that asphalt in Denver is nearer to the sun and the destructive effects associated with it. UV rays accelerate the rate of surface degradation, which forms small waves and soft spots across the surface of your asphalt.

Daily use and UV rays make the components that join asphalt together weak, which might lead to the fading of the black color of asphalt into a dull gray. Sealcoating cracks are the best method of protecting your asphalt from UV rays and heat whenever damage occurs and routine preventive maintenance.

How to Prevent and Repair Erosion & Damage

With some advice about paving and preventive maintenance from professionals, you can protect your asphalt from the harsh winter weather damage effects.

Repairing Storm Basins

Storm basins are constructed to hold and restrain water from the surface of your asphalt before accumulating to cause damage. But, it is not unusual for runoff from snow and a torrential downpour to move the storm basin from its designated position.

If you see water accumulating in places, it shouldn’t be or cracks in your storm basin, contact a Denver Asphalt repair professional right away. Remember that an inch of water can cause damage to thousands of dollars.

Sealcoating

It is a method used to protect asphalt from gas and oil spills. Sealcoating also prevents the spread of cracks, thus enhancing the artistic taste of the asphalt surface and increasing the durability of the asphalt construction.

Crack Sealing

Crack sealing your asphalt increases the durability of your structure by preventing debris and water from accumulating in the cracks on the surface of your asphalt.

Protect Your Asphalt from Harsh Winter Damage

Hiring professional paving contractors in Denver is the best way to protect your asphalt from the damaging effects of the harsh winter weather. From big business projects to basic repair and maintenance, they provide the best paving solutions in Denver. So, don’t hesitate to seek assistance from an expert if you notice any asphalt damage to your structure.

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What is the Typical Life Cycle of an Asphalt Parking Lot?

No matter how sturdily a structure is laid, it will eventually reach a time when it will require maintenance or replacement. The period it takes before reaching such an instant defines a structure’s lifecycle. Asphalt parking is one such structure, and if you own one, then you need to keep updated on essential aspects that define its lifecycle.

Various factors affect the lifecycle of an Asphalt parking lot. Environmental conditions, design and construction elements, water drainage means, frequency of maintenance, and significant of all, traffic load, are some of the critical aspects to the lifecycle of an Asphalt parking lot.

In this article, we shall focus specifically on the lifecycle of an asphalt parking lot as well as factors signifying a need for maintenance or replacement.

Asphalt Parking Lot’s Life Cycle

In overall, a standard asphalt parking lot can last for up to 25 years. However, this period can reduce or increase depending on asphalt maintenance regularity. But what happens during this lasting period?

Well, let’s have a look.

0 to 5 years: For the first five years since construction, your asphalt parking is still strong and probably shows little or no signs of damage. If anything, the surface might have insignificantly deformed while color discoloration might be visible, especially if it is extensively exposed to sunlight.

5 to 7 years: During this period, your parking lot starts experiencing minor cracks, thereby necessitating for maintenance services. Practices such as crack-sealing and seal-coating are necessary at this stage.

7 to 15 years: With proper maintenance practices during the previous phase, your parking might not undergo significant damages for the next 15 years. However, you should continually check for damages while ensuring necessary maintenance practices for prolonged endurance.

15 to 25 years: After 15 years of use, you should expect your Asphalt parking lot to have started developing visible cracks as well as considerable deformation. If such damages are significant, you might need to resurface your parking lot.

Over 25 years: beyond 25 years signifies the end of the parking’s life cycle. During this stage, it has undergone extensive damages and probably multiple repairs, which means it might no longer withhold the weight of your vehicle. If more repairs seem to be of no help, then you can reconstruct the entire structure.

Maintenance Practices Timing

Maintenance involves various activities including crack-sealing, seal-coating, and resurfacing, all which should be timely carried out. But how do you determine the best time for every maintenance practice?

Crack Sealing

Filling of small cracks in your parking lot should be done using a liquid concrete filler. Cracks to seal should be small, not exceeding half an inch in terms of width. You should schedule a crack sealing exercise every year to extend the lifecycle of your asphalt parking.

Seal coating

As one of the concrete maintenance activities, seal coating is meant to reduce concrete exposure from the effects of sunlight, spillages, water, and air oxidizers. Seal coating should be best carried out immediately after the crack sealing process or any other time beyond six months when damages start revealing.

Resurfacing

Extensive damages might eventually necessitate for resurfacing process. It involves adding a new asphalt layer on top of the existing one, a process also referred to as overlaying. This process should only happen after a decade of parking construction. You should also initiate it during favorable weather conditions, preferably during warm seasons.

Final Thoughts

Since timely maintenance is essential for your asphalt parking lot, you need to be observant on the emergence of an issue. If conditions such as cracks are unattended to, they may continually weaken the surface leading to a reduced timeline. Moreover, you should act on any issue you identify as soon as possible.

 

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Asphalt Repairs Your Parking Lot May Need This Spring in Colorado

Has your asphalt driveway or parking lot gotten hammered this winter? You aren’t alone. However, with the right products and a few DIY skills, you may be able to repair the damage and prevent future issues.

Prevention Tips

The number one repair tip is to prevent damage before it starts. Some ideas here include:

  • Repair small cracks in the fall so they won’t worsen over the winter.
  • Clear debris away so it doesn’t scratch up the asphalt.
  • In colder months, regularly shoveling snow to minimize pools of standing water.

Repair Tips

When it comes to pavement, it’s always better to tackle problems sooner rather than later. Tiny cracks can become deep crags and potholes faster than you think. Here are four problems and what to do about them:

Is Your Asphalt Cracked?

There are several products you can get from local home repair centers for fixing asphalt cracks. Look for a two part kit that includes melt-in filler and cover mix that is troweled in. Follow the instructions on the box, but in general you will:

  1. Clean the cracked area well so the filler will adhere.
  2. Press the filler into place.
  3. Melt it in with a blowtorch.
  4. Trowel on a patch.
  5. Let it cure for a full 24 hours.  Rain will ruin the job.

Are There Pits in the Asphalt?

If you notice these where cars are parked, they could be from leaked motor oil and coolants. Smaller pits can be repaired with a patch in a similar process as with cracked asphalt. However, keep in mind that you’ll need to clear the oil out first. Use a product designed to cut oil, prime the area with oil stain primer, and then patch as above. If you still notice shallow pits, make a second pass with the patching to create a flat, sealed surface.

Do You Have Potholes?

These large pits can damage both ankles and vehicles, and if left untreated they will continue to grow. However, if you’re up for another trip to the hardware store, these are straightforward to patch. Get a bagged product and follow the instructions. The general procedure is:

  1. Clear the pothole of bigger chunks of debris
  2. Scoop or pour about two inches of asphalt patch into the hole.
  3. Use a shovel, tamping tool, or the blunt end of a firewood log to compact the material. The more compact you can get it, the better.
  4. Repeat steps 2-3 in two inch increments until it’s level.
  5. Add a small crown. This will compensate for the patch settling over time.
  6. Cure and seal.

Are There a Mix of Problems? Do You See Rippling or Sagging Asphalt?

If your driveway has more minor issues than you can easily count, it may be time for a full resurfacing. On the other hand, if you notice large slumped areas or ripples, that’s a worrying sign of possible damage to the surface under the asphalt. In both cases you’re looking at a big job to fix the situation.

It’s probably time to walk past your garage of tools and patch kits and head straight to your phone. Call in the pros. A professional repair company will know how to handle your damaged asphalt in a fast, efficient way and get things fixed right the first time around.