By admin Asphalt Paving • • • 0 Comments

How to Prevent Potholes from Forming

Asphalt potholes are a hazard that you want to avoid whenever possible. Driving on potholes can lead to popped tires, and other damage to your vehicle. If you own a parking lot with potholes, people can get hurt if they don’t see a pothole while walking. Asphalt companies will encourage you to have potholes on your property fixed to avoid damage to vehicles or personal injuries. Preventing asphalt potholes from forming can keep your driveway or parking lot safe for use.

Clean the Driveway or Parking Lot Every Week

The best way to catch cracks or small potholes early is to have a weekly cleaning schedule for your driveway or parking lot. This can be done using a simple broom, hose, or blower. When you check your driveway weekly, and clean it off, you are going to notice any problems as soon as they begin.

Patch Any Cracks Immediately After Discovery

If you find a crack in your asphalt, this should be repaired right away. Asphalt companies are usually available quick to take care of small cracks you uncover during a routine cleaning. When you ignore a crack in your asphalt, the problem is only going to get worse over time. Water can get below the surface of your asphalt through a crack, and wreak havoc with your sub-structure below.

Invest in Asphalt Sealing Every Few Years

The asphalt on your driveway is going to fade over time. To keep the structural integrity of your asphalt intact, have the driveway sealed every two to three years. Asphalt companies will apply a thin layer of asphalt onto the existing surface, where it will then protect your driveway for a few years. Once the seal has worn off, you can apply another coat.

Remove Weeds From Your Driveway

Weeds can get into the cracks or crevices of your asphalt, and will continue to grow if you don’t remove them. As weeds grow, they are going to multiply. This will cause a crack to widen further, and eventually a pothole will form. If you find weeds in your driveway, take the time to remove them periodically. Use a spray to prevent weeds from growing in the cracks of your driveway if possible.

Clean Up Oil Stains Immediately

Oil should never be left to sit on your driveway, as this is going to destroy the asphalt. Oil spills are messy, and the oil is hazardous enough to cause damage to the asphalt. If the oil remains without getting cleaned up, you will eventually have cracks and potholes form because of the damage.

Improve the Drainage of Your Parking Lot or Driveway

If you have problems with puddles forming on your asphalt, this is going to lead to the formation of asphalt potholes. When there is a puddle, this means the water is not draining from your property adequately. Standing water breaks down the surface of your asphalt, leading to weak, cracked asphalt that starts to sink. 

Pay attention to any problems with your asphalt surface, and contact an asphalt company for crack repair and pothole filling if you need it. Take the time to clean your asphalt weekly, and deal with small repairs quickly to avoid a complete failure of your asphalt surface.

By admin Asphalt Paving • • • 0 Comments

5 Things You Need to Know About Alligator Cracking

Concrete cracking occurs for a number of reasons, and it’s important to take care of cracks to prolong the lifespan of your asphalt. Alligatored asphalt is a term used by concrete companies to identify cracks that look like alligator skin. The cracks can be small, and caused by too much traffic, heavy loads, or from temperature extremes. If you have problems with the structural integrity of your concrete, it’s time to learn more about solving the problem.

Alligator Cracking Is Common

One of the first things to understand about concrete cracking, is that alligator cracking is a common type of damage you will see with asphalt. It can occur no matter how old the concrete is, and will need to be repaired to prevent water from getting below the surface to cause further issues.

Heavy Loads are Only One Cause of Alligator Cracking

Too much weight on your driveway or parking lot is only one way that alligator cracking occurs. Excessive traffic on the concrete will eventually cause it to wear down and crack. An inadequate subgrade below the surface can lead to alligator cracking, because the concrete is not being properly supported during use.

It’s Expensive to Neglect Alligator Cracks

If you don’t take the time to repair small concrete cracking issues, it is going to get expensive to repair the problem over time. When you ignore alligator cracks in concrete, the integrity of the surface of your driveway or parking lot is ruined. This means water and other debris can get below the surface, degrading the supporting foundation. Cracks will start to get larger, and eventually you will need to replace the entire project.

You Can Clean Alligatored Concrete Easily

Understand that you don’t have to use a pressure washer in order to properly clean alligatored concrete. This surface can be cleaned with a regular hose, water, and stiff broom to remove dirt and debris. If you try to use a pressure washer on alligatored concrete, you could end up applying too much pressure and causing further damage to the concrete.

Summer is the Best Time to Repair Concrete

If you have alligatored asphalt on your property, summer is the best time to consider hiring concrete companies to take care of the work for you. The weather is nice, and you want to be sure that you have enough warmth for the asphalt to cure. When asphalt is laid in the warm weather months, it can be applied with the intent that it will shrink slightly when the cold weather hits. If you have noticed problems with alligator concrete cracking, summer is a great time to call for a repair.

When you take good care of your asphalt, it can last for many years without a problem. Pay attention to any small cracks, and get those filled in before they become too large to repair. Avoid heavy traffic on your concrete, and clean the surface periodically to remove any dirt, debris or chemical spills. When you take care of small repairs, your driveway is going to last longer. Good maintenance is less expensive than replacing the existing surface because of neglect.

By admin Construction • • 0 Comments

Good Asphalt Paving Job vs. Bad One – What To Look For

When you work with an asphalt contractor, you want to know that the job is going to be done right the first time. A good asphalt paving job is done with care, and is going to last for years, while poorly done asphalt paving is going to have a number of complications until it fails completely. The thickness of the asphalt overlay, the asphalt surface transitions, the drainage protocol, and the application of primer all play a role in how well the entire job is completed.

The Thickness of the Asphalt Overlay

Any good asphalt contractor is going to use a minimum or two inches of asphalt when they complete an asphalt paving job. This is an industry standard, and one that is followed by all reputable asphalt contractors worth hiring. If the company tries to spend less money to complete the job, they might try to get away with using only one inch of asphalt. This is going to cause the paving to crack, and does not provide a stable base for your completed project. If the company you want to hire only uses an inch of asphalt, it’s time to look further for a new contractor.

The Asphalt Surface Transitions

Surface transitions are important to how a newly covered driveway looks, and how smooth the transition is between the driveway and the road. There shouldn’t be any bumps in between the driveway, sidewalk, or road when you hire a quality asphalt contractor. When it comes to quality work, a smooth, seamless driveway without noticeable transition areas is a job well done.

The Drainage Protocol

It is important that water drains well off of your asphalt paving, as water can break down the surface of your asphalt if it is left to pool. A good drainage protocol will ensure that any water that lands on your asphalt surface runs off and away from the asphalt that has been laid down. Without a good drainage protocol, you will notice puddles on the asphalt, or water accumulating at the end of your driveway that will cause damage to the asphalt.

The Application of Primer

Primer is used to help new asphalt adhere to any old asphalt that is already in place. If you are paving over a surface, primer is used to prevent the new asphalt from breaking down quickly once it is laid on top of an old surface. If the application of primer is ignored, the asphalt contractor is missing a critical step in the process of good asphalt paving.

If you are looking for an asphalt paving contractor, it is important to ask questions. Learn what type of primer is used in the process of laying down an asphalt surface, and ask how thick the initial asphalt is. Understand that the industry standard is two inches of asphalt, and anything less is going to result in a surface that is prone to cracks. A good drainage plan is necessary, and you will want to know how well the asphalt contractor is able to handle transitions. Take the time to do your research, and understand what it takes to do a paving job well.

By admin Asphalt Paving • • 0 Comments

5 Benefits of Commercial Asphalt Paving in 2023

Commercial Asphalt Paving Is Easy to Maintain

One benefit of commercial asphalt paving is that it is pretty easy to maintain. Of course, regular maintenance is required to keep the asphalt in good condition. However, asphalt companies can maintain asphalt relatively easily. One part of this is ensuring that the asphalt does not have any sitting debris or standing water. Doing so helps ensure that the asphalt does not develop potholes or cracks.

Plants may grow in the cracks if you do not regularly maintain your asphalt. As a result, these plants can damage your asphalt and require you to repair the asphalt. Even so, maintaining commercial asphalt is fairly simple and one part of this is removing debris and dirt. This makes sure that your asphalt lasts for a considerable amount of time and looks good. You can consult many asphalt companies to do this work for you.

It is a Flexible Solution

Another benefit is that commercial asphalt paving is a flexible solution. Now, a flexible solution can mean different things depending on the context. In this context, it means that asphalt is a more flexible material compared to other materials like concrete.

Asphalt is easier to repair, as previously mentioned. Additionally, asphalt is a material that breathes with the ground. You can create a routine maintenance plan to avoid more expensive repairs.

The Paving Process is Simple

It is also worth mentioning that the commercial asphalt paving process is pretty simple. Naturally, you have to start off by creating a sound structure. After that, you have to consider what kind of traffic you expect on your asphalt. As the expected weight increases, the thickness of the surface also has to increase.

Asphalt companies can get together the materials required to create asphalt fairly quickly. Due to this fact, they can usually begin paving your asphalt project without any major delays. It is also best to pour asphalt on warm and sunny days. The paving process for asphalt is much simpler than the paving process for other materials.

Commercial Asphalt Paving is Multi-Use

You might think of roads and parking lots when you think about asphalt. Those are a few common uses of asphalt. However, they are far from the only uses of this material. Asphalt is an excellent material for a number of outdoor projects. For example, asphalt also works well if you need a paved walkway.

Additionally, asphalt is an ideal material for an outdoor sports complex that includes basketball and tennis courts, as well. You can renovate several areas of commercial space with asphalt paving. For this reason, you might consider contacting local asphalt companies if your commercial space requires renovation.

Improve Drainage Systems with Asphalt

It can be a major issue if your space has water where water should not be. If your commercial space has poor drainage, this can cause damage and require frequent repairs. Additionally, excessive water can lead to erosion, potholes, and other undesirable effects. Excessive water may also cause puddles and these puddles can be a hassle for both you and your customers.

These puddles can be more than an annoyance. In fact, puddles can prove to be a legitimate safety hazard, as well. However, if you get commercial asphalt paving, you won’t have to worry about these issues. Many asphalt companies offer high-quality commercial asphalt paving at a reasonable price.

By admin Asphalt Driveway • Snow Removal • • • • 0 Comments

How And When to Salt Driveway or Pavement Surfaces | Snow Removal Pros

Winter is upon us once again, which can only mean one thing – much of the country will soon be bombarded by a plethora of winter storms, if that isn’t already the case.

If you live in a part of the country that experiences all four seasons, you’re no doubt familiar with the trucks that drive around neighborhoods that salt the roadways to keep things safe. Of course, this demands the question – when should you salt your driveway or pavement surfaces, and how do you best go about accomplishing that goal? The answers to questions like those require you to keep a few key things in mind.

Show Removal Basics: Breaking Things Down

One of the most important things to understand about this process in general is that you’ll need to take a very proactive approach when it comes to snow removal.

That is to say, you shouldn’t wait for the snow to fall before you begin taking care of the situation. In a best case scenario, you should put salt down on places like your driveway asphalt and other surfaces prior to the beginning of the storm. Spread salt evenly across your surfaces to make sure that you have equal protection moving forward.

Even if a storm cropped up unexpectedly and snow is already on the ground, don’t worry – you can still put salt down. Yes, it’s true that the poor weather will likely make it more difficult to do so. But especially as the storm drags on, this is very much one of those situations where doing something is better than doing nothing at all.

Especially if you’re dealing with asphalt surfaces, you should be judicious about where you put down salt. While it’s true that products like rock salt can cause long-term damage to concrete, they aren’t nearly as hard on the asphalt itself. This is because asphalt is less porous than concrete is. Because of that, it will hold up better to the application of salt over the long-term. This is also part of the reason why, if you’re thinking about having something like your driveway redone, and you live in an area of the country that experiences significant winter storms, asphalt would certainly be an option that you would want to consider.

Beyond that, knowing how and when to salt your driveway or pavement surfaces requires you to come to a better understanding of how salt actually works in this context. Most of the products that you’re likely to find in a local hardware or home improvement store work by lowering the freezing point of water. This makes it more difficult for ice to form over longer periods of time. This is also a big part of the reason why it’s so important to put salt down prior to any upcoming winter weather – you’re not trying to solve a problem, you’re trying to prevent one from happening at all.

If you are dealing with concrete surfaces, there are other environmentally friendly products that you can consider. They’re less harsh on the concrete than rock salt, although you may not see the results quite as quickly. Likewise, you may have to put more of the product down on the ground than you would with rock salt – although when you consider that you’re preventing damage to your surfaces, that may be worth what many perceive to be a minor inconvenience.

If you’d like to find out more information about how and when to salt driveway or pavement surfaces on or around your property, or if you’d just like to speak to experts at local concrete companies in a bit more detail, please don’t delay – contact us today.