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.

By admin Asphalt Paving • • 0 Comments

[5 Essentials] Asphalt Paving Services for Homeowners Associations

The choice to buy a house is usually a well thought one out. Beauty, practicability, safety, lighting, and affordability are some of the factors to consider before choosing a house.

A member of a Home Owners Association (HOA) has expectations that are in line with what drove them to be a member of the group. One of these desires is a good looking pavement, parking lot, and driveway. In line with this, here are five essential asphalt paving services that members of HOA should expect from asphalt paving companies.

1. Plan Plentiful Parking Space

Well maintained streets and walkways are some of the things that prospective house buyers or renters look for. Ample parking space is also another important consideration. No one wants to park too far from their home.

Therefore, asphalt paving companies should plan for enough parking spaces. They should take into consideration spaces for the handicapped. The space should be large enough to cater to service providers, repair, and utility vehicles.

2. Keep Lines and Markings Bright; Night and Day

When it comes to parking lot markings, they should be well maintained, especially when one keeps on parking at the same spot every day.

Parking typically is easy for residents as opposed to guests; so the lines should be well visible to make it easy for guests to park as well.

As simple as these markings seem, they play a major role. They improve the general look of the parking lot and therefore the marketability of the real estate as a whole. The first impression of a would-be tenant is greatly boosted with clearly visible and distinct markings on the parking lot, whether day or night.

3. Concrete Maintenance and Repair: Sidewalks and More

Asphalt paving service providers are expected to provide a myriad of other services as well. This service should include maintenance of concrete planters, entryways, dumpster pads, and wheelchair ramps.

The difference between asphalt and concrete is that the latter is more permeable and thus prone to wear. Crumbling sidewalks are unattractive and can cause tripping accidents for residents. Its maintenance is crucial as it goes to avoid accidents or eye-sores.

Crack filling, sealing, waterproofing, and patching will go a long way in improving the overall beauty of a home.

4. Regularly-Scheduled Maintenance Prevents Expensive Repairs

Asphalt and concrete are durable, but nothing lasts forever. This does not mean that as soon as a crack or crumble is visible, that it’s time to redo the whole thing. There are means of maintenance that can be used to extend the lifespan of streets, pavements, and more, without redoing the whole thing.

Regularly scheduled crack-filling and seal-coating are some of the means. Apart from boosting the value of property in the neighborhood, the area will also look beautiful. Asphalt paving companies have to follow this through as their maintenance obligation.

Property owners and caretakers should ensure regular repairs as this keeps the costs remain by dealing with small patch-ups as opposed to big ones or complete makeovers.

5. Scheduling Helps Reduce Access Problems for Residents

You don’t want to wake up in the morning and realize you can’t get out of the driveway. Nothing is as irritating as finding an asphalt paving company working on a path thus has blocked the driveway.

To avoid this inconvenience it is prudent for the contractor to always schedule any form of work to be done not in a time that inconveniences users. It is recommended repairs be planned and carried out in stages.

Although repairing in stages might take longer to complete but it wouldn’t inconvenience users in the neighborhood as they carry out their daily activities.

By admin Construction • • 0 Comments

How To Build Concrete Steps & Add Value To Your Home

If you are reasonably handy with power tools and understand the importance of getting a project level and square, building concrete steps can save you a few dollars. As DIY tasks go, concrete steps can be somewhat labor-intensive. But with the right tools and by following these steps carefully, you can add value to your property.

1: Gather Your Tools & Materials

You will likely need the following tools and materials to complete a set of concrete steps: a 4-foot level, framing square, circular saw, hammer, wheelbarrow, shovel, concrete edger, broom, tape measure, circular saw, concrete, trowel, 2x lumber, gravel, rubble, and plywood.

2: Take Initial Measurements

Measure the height from the ground to the bottom of the doorway. Now calculate how many steps you will need extending away from the building at 7 inches per step. This is to say, each step is supposed to be no more than 7 inches. If the door threshold’s bottom is 21 inches from the ground, you usually need three concrete steps. If the height can’t be divided by 7 inches evenly, get each step as close as you can. You can make shorter steps, but not taller ones.

3: Set Your Footings

Excavate the ground where the concrete steps will be poured. Layout 2x lumber to form two boxes to pour the footings. Check that they are perfectly level. These should extend about three inches wider than your steps. As the concrete starts to harden, insert rebar into the footings so that it sticks up about 6-8 inches. Fill the center space with gravel.

4: Build A Frame

Measure and cut two plywood sections to mirror the sides of the concrete steps, based on your measurements. Set one on each footing with 3 inches protruding at the bottom. Check that they are also level. Cut 2x materials to create the face of each step, not the part you would walk on. Hammer them in place. Cut a 2×4 to create a brace. This typically is one length that extends from the ground and over the steps. Attach shorter braces — called cleats — that point down and support each step o the front. Hammer the last cleat into the ground and attach the long length to ensure it stays in place. Check to make certain your concrete steps will all be level, and the form is square.

5: Fill In The Form

Consider using stones, bricks, or cinderblock pieces to fill up a portion of the form. This will cut down on the amount of concrete needed. This strategy also tends to alleviate some pressure on your forms when the concrete is poured. Save room to insert lengths of ½-inch thick rebar about 3-4 inches below the concrete steps’ surface.

6: Fill With Concrete

Mix your concrete in the wheelbarrow and shovel it into the concrete steps form. It’s essential to prepare a firm but moist concrete mixture. This will help prevent leakage, reduce the hardening time, and allow you to manipulate it effectively.

7: Detail Your Concrete Steps

Use the edger to enhance the outer areas’ appearance once the concrete is fairly hard. Then take the broom and add traction lines to the spaces people will place their feet.

8: Remove Forms

Concrete steps usually take 12 to 24 hours to cure. Once the concrete has hardened, remove the forms. A flat tool such as a trowel may prove effective. Keep in mind that hard impacts or prying from tools such as a crowbar can damage the steps.

Concrete steps require some muscle to build. While handy homeowners can save a few bucks on labor, a masonry contractor may be worth considering.