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 Asphalt Paving 0 Comments

7 Signs You Need a Mill and Overlay

When it comes to private road construction, something like an asphalt driveway is an investment – and it’s one that should always be protected. That includes paying attention to certain warning signs that indicate a mill and overlay would be highly recommended for not only your driveway, but for also sidewalks and other private roads you may be dealing with. 

Asphalt Chipping

One of the most immediate signs that you need a mill and overlay comes by way of any asphalt chipping that you may be experiencing. This is most commonly caused by structural stress and a mill and overlay can help cut down on this a great deal.

Large and Deep Cracks

Large and deep cracks are similar warning sign in that they are caused by overloading thin driveways, sidewalks, or private roads. Note that these cracks will need to be properly repaired prior to the mill and the overlay being added.

Numerous Small Cracks

Numerous small cracks are usually caused by weaker base materials. However, excessive stress and even poor drainage can also exacerbate the issue significantly.

Large Potholes

If water is allowed to seep into any of those aforementioned cracks that you’re seeing with your driveway, sidewalk, or private road, it is highly likely that you’ll be looking at potholes in your future. That water then freezes and expands and when it thaws, it causes those cracks to turn into potholes. Luckily, a mill and overlay can help with all of this.

Numerous Pockmarks

One clear warning sign that you need a mill and overlay has to do with numerous pockmarks forming over a (relatively) short period of time. This, too, is usually caused by one of a few unfortunately common reasons – like a lack of repairs, maintenance and general upkeep over the years, weak materials used in the subgrade, and poor construction overall. These pockmarks will likely continue to worsen and form full-fledged potholes if they aren’t addressed as soon as possible.

Faded Color

Obviously, an asphalt road, pathway, or driveway is going to be exposed to the elements constantly. As time marches on, and it sees a constant exposure to not only the sun and heat but also rain, wind, and even snow in some parts of the country, the asphalt coating will slowly begin to degrade. That will not only leave your asphalt more susceptible to normal wear and tear like cracking, but it will also cause it to fade in color far easier, too.

Widespread Oil Staining

Let’s face facts – sometimes, your car leaks oil or other types of chemicals. But if you don’t clean up those spills right away, a number of bad things can happen. For starters, that stain will become harder and harder to clean – creating an unsightly appearance. But also, that oil can seep further into the asphalt and cause additional damage like cracking. A mill and overlay can help take care of all this and more.

If you’d like to find out more information about the signs to watch out for to let you know that you might need a mill and overlay, or if you just have any additional questions about things like private road construction that you’d like to go over in more detail, please don’t delay – contact us today.

By admin Asphalt Paving • • • 0 Comments

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.

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

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.