By admin Asphalt Paving • Construction • • • 0 Comments

Why You Should Be ADA Compliant In Your Parking Lot

Improvements to your parking lot aren’t an expense, they’re an investment. Those simple changes can pay for themselves.

They’re also the law. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has specific guidelines and requirements to accommodate those with disabilities. For your parking lot to be ADA compliant, it must be accessible and have no barriers, among other requirements. A full list of requirements can be found here. It is a common misconception that parking lots constructed before 1990 have been grandfathered in and don’t need to meet ADA requirements. As of 2012, that isn’t true. All businesses are required by law to be ADA compliant.

Here are some of the ways you’ll benefit:

1. More Customers

ADA compliance is designed to make it easier for people to access everyday businesses. You’ll open opportunities for more people to visit your store or office, bringing in a whole new set of customers or clients.

People with disabilities make up the largest minority in the nation, and they represent more than 12 percent of the population. With the growth in the aging population, that’s a lot of potential new customers or clients!

2.  Tax Benefits

The IRS offers tax advantages in the form of credits and deductions for businesses that can help with the cost of making your parking lot ADA compliant. According to the ADA website, the credits can be up to $5,000 a year for businesses with less than one million in revenue “to offset the cost of undertaking barrier removal and alterations to improve accessibility” and the deductions can be up to $15,000 a year for all businesses for the cost of these improvements. Check with your accountant for more information.

3.  Higher Property Value

It’s hard to predict the future, and you could outgrow your current location. Making your parking lot ADA compliant may increase your business’s property value because potential buyers would not be saddled with the cost of improving the property, yet will still benefit from the upgrade.

4.  Competitive Advantage

If you’re ADA compliant and your competitor is not, you are likely to draw in more consumers. The aging population – which makes up a large percentage of those with disabilities – holds half of the discretionary income in the nation, Even people who aren’t disabled respect the needs of others and will patronize businesses that are accessible to their friends and family members with disabilities. This holds true for employees as well, and your competitive edge can extend to potential new hires.

5.  Community Spirit

While more difficult to quantify, making your parking lot ADA compliant tells your community “we care” by respecting the needs of others. Today’s consumer looks for businesses that are socially responsible. Consider the needs of people with disabilities and the difficulties they face in everyday activities. By showing consideration, you are telling the public you are a company to trust. If you are thinking of the public, the public is thinking of you.

Simple yet important changes to your parking lot can affect your bottom line, offsetting the cost of those improvements. Those improvements can be seen as more than a business expense, but rather, a marketing tool.

By admin Asphalt Paving • Paving • • • 0 Comments

The Cost of Drainage Issues on Your Pavement

Pavements are important to our contemporary lives by providing a smooth surface onto which we can transport goods and people as well as communicate with each other. Therefore, it is important to keep your pavements in optimal shape. This can be achieved through proper drainage. It is considered the element that ensures a long lived quality pavement. Problems can occur due to moisture accumulation in any structural layer of the pavement.
Long-term problems can not only be caused by standing water from heavy rain or sprinklers but also from underground water, which is harder to detect. Cracks in the pavement provide a way for the ground water to seep into the parking lot from below the surface. Some of the drainage issues affecting pavements include;

Winter Liability
During winter months, your pavement can quickly fill up with ice formed by seeping groundwater. The people walking here may be in danger of injury resulting in liabilities for you and your business. It may also make it difficult to control a vehicle as hydroplaning can occur at speeds as low as 35 MPH.

Water ponding
This refers to the collection of water at deteriorated shoulders or pavements. Ponding can be caused by a backup in the drainage system or an insufficient cross slope. The pavement’s original cross slope can be affected by both maintenance and traffic activities. It is especially hazardous at intersections a driver will require greater distances to stop. It is also dangerous in wheel paths or ruts. Wheel ruts are caused by traffic, especially heavy truck traffic, resulting in bituminous pavement movement to the wheel path sides. They are noticeable and run parallel to the pavement’s centerline.
Ponding can cause drivers, pedestrians, or bicyclists to divert paths, often encroaching the opposing lane. This endangers their lives as well as the lives of opposing motorists. Ponding contributes to the rutting of stabilized soil and deterioration of the pavement edge resulting in additional safety hazards. Vegetation growth and debris build-up can cause shoulder to scour and edge drops when the pavement edge traps water.

Shoving
Occurring frequently at stop locations such as intersections, this pavement condition results in the pavement having a series of ridges running across it. These ridges are hazardous when wet and dry as they can retain water and cause a vehicle’s wheels to bounce respectively. This bouncing decreases braking ability and reduces the pavement’s contact with the wheels.

Issues with Maintenance
Sealers may not work as they should due to the water and leak impact on asphalt. Wet asphalt does not enable the adhesion of sealant. The sealant will re-emulsify and be easily tracked into stores or cars. You can experience difficulties in maintenance due to poor location, trapped debris, flat grades causing clogging of pipes, and low-flow conditions lacking self-cleansing velocities.

Long Term Damage
Standing water may result in structural damage which is long-term and costly. Lack of adequate maintenance can also result in long-term, costly damage. The weakening of entire areas will happen first, then falls and large cracks will occur. Not short-term fixes will be available for potholes.

Drainage issues can be hard to detect, but they result in some costly mistakes. You should strive to prevent the accumulation of these small issues before they develop into major problems.

By admin Snow Removal • • • • 0 Comments

Snow Plow Damage on Asphalt

Living and working in the Snow Belt means having to deal with snow removal yourself, or hiring professional help. Snow piles up fast, therefore, you snow removal solution should be just as effective. This is especially important for businesses as snow piling on roadways, sidewalks, and parking lots mean lost revenues as customers are unable to access the business.

However, companies should consider the negative implications of the snow removal methods they select. These negative implications include liabilities arising from snow removal and safety concerns. The use of snow plows, in particular, may cause damage to sidewalks, roadways and parking lots. Companies should, therefore, have this in mind when they prepare annual budgets. Provisions should be made for the repair of damaged infrastructure. This provision should be made when budgeting for winter expenses and expenditure (which will include the costs of snow removal).

Companies can also be proactive and take steps towards preventing damage to infrastructure during the winter from snow plowing. These steps include;

  • Filling and Sealing Cracks – Before the winter months roll in it will be prudent if an inspection of the infrastructure around you is carried out. This means the parking lot, driveways and sidewalks. Any cracks should be identified and filled. This will prevent the intrusion of water which periodically freezes and thaws during winter making infrastructure more susceptible to damage due to water’s expansion and contraction.
  • Protect from Snow Plows – Again before winter begins to make sure the parking lot, sidewalk or driveway is clear of any objects such as dirt, litter or rocks. These objects can crack the asphalt when run over by a snow plow. Place visible markers at curbs to protect sidewalks and driveways.
  • Shovel often and correctly – Shoveling as soon as it snows minimizes the amount of snow and water on your parking lot at any given moment thus reducing the probability of damage from water thawing and freezing. Ensure the shovel you use does not damage your parking lot, select a shovel that is not sharp.
  • Check Your De-Icer – Carefully select the de-icing agents you will use. Some agents such as rock salt can damage cement and asphalt. Using milder agents is recommended.
  • Repair Potholes – Ensure any potholes detected during winter in your parking lot are repaired promptly. Asphalt can be repaired at a fraction of the cost of traditional repairs using infrared asphalt repairs.

Budgeting for snow removal

Damage from snow plows usually occurs from the scraping of the asphalt by a blade set too low. The scraping action can strip off pavement sealer. Therefore, sealer applications should be included in the budget in order to restore the asphalt once the snow and ice clear.

Quality Snow Removal Solution Investments

The most important investments needed during winter for snow removal will be in personnel and materials. The personnel hired to perform snow removal should be experienced and/or from reputable companies with the know how to minimize damage to infrastructure. Hiring experienced drivers should be a priority. In terms of materials, you will require to invest in suitable de-icing agents and visible markers to guide drivers on where to plow and where not to plow.

Winter is coming. The snow and ice should not surprise you this season. Developing a plan for the prevention of damage and postseason restoration will go a long way towards minimizing costs associated with snow plow damage. Do not wait until you have to replace the whole pavement, instead undertake frequent repairs and maintenance. This will result in significant cost saving in the long run.

By admin Paving • • • • • • 0 Comments

What Temperature Should You Pour Concrete?

Concrete can be poured at any time when the temperatures have been above 40 F for over 72 hours. Moderate temperatures make the placement crew’s job easier as it sets up at a good pace, allowing ample time for edging, jointing, troweling and curing. In some instances, it can be placed when temperatures are lower but special additives are used, and heating may also be required. The other factors that can affect concrete pouring include wind speed, humidity levels, and the temperature of the sub-base which is the surface you will be pouring your concrete on.

Pouring your concrete in cold weather

In regards to concrete, cold weather is anything below 40ºF. Here are some tips for pouring concrete in cold weather;
  • Should the sub-base be frozen thaw it with heaters. Alternatively, you could pour the concrete on Styrofoam material as it helps sustain the temperature in the concrete.
  • Order for concrete products that are designed to cure promptly. Cold weather concrete is capable of resisting thawing and freezing effects as they have air entrained voids.
  • Ascertain that the concrete you order for has a low slump also known as a drier mix to minimize bleed water. You can use a vacuum or squeegees to rid the concrete of bleed water. This will help decrease the setting time.
  • You could use hot water to mix the concrete or use extra cement, that is, 100 lbs per cubic yard of concrete to create a heated reaction.
  • Once you have successfully poured your concrete, maintain its temperatures at 50ºF for a minimum of 3 days to a maximum of 7 days. This can be achieved through the use of heated enclosures or an insulating blanket.
  • If you are going to make use of a heated enclosure, ascertain that it is weatherproof and windproof.
  • Once you determine that the concrete is well set, you can remove the insulating blanket or the heated enclosure to allow the concrete to air dry.

Pouring your concrete in hot weather

  • Hot temperature in regards to concrete pouring is anything above 77ºF. Here are some tips for pouring concrete in hot weather;
  • Avoid pouring the concrete when it’s too hot to avoid temperature-related issues. You can do so either early in the morning or late in the evening.
  • You can erect shades along with wind barriers to protect the poured concrete from crusting or stiffening. Crusted concrete is highly susceptible to plastic shrinkage, crazing, and cracking.
  • Have a few people help you with the mixing process. Prolonged mixing only results in increased temperatures. You can add ice to the water mix to cool the temperature of the mixture.
  • You can dampen the sub-base to help minimize its temperature before pouring your concrete.
  • You can control the evaporation after pouring through the use of wet burlap, polyethylene sheets, waterproof paper, and windbreaks.
  • Should the weather be extremely hot, you will need to observe continuous moist curing for the next couple of days until the concrete is dry.

Finally, note that it is not advisable to place concrete when temperatures exceed 100 F, as it can flash set and there won’t be enough time for proper finishing.

By admin Asphalt Paving • • • • • • 0 Comments

Top 6 Factors that Affect Asphalt Paving Costs

Asphalt is one of the leading paving choices for its affordability and cost-efficiency. When an asphalt parking lot or driveway is properly paved and maintain, it can last for decades.

When installed properly, asphalt becomes less visible to most users than other parts of a construction project. For incredible end result, ensure asphalt installation is of high quality. Finding a balance between value and cost within a budget can be an uphill task.

So, what factors can affect asphalt paving cost?

 

Total Square Footage

When planning for asphalt paving, the size of coverage needs consideration. Long and wide pavements need a significant amount of base material, labour, time, and asphalt to complete. The depth of the prepared site is also an important factor.

Some tools like the Basic Construction’s Asphalt Calculator can approximate the amount of materials required. Estimation is made with reference to a benchmark mix density of 148 pounds per every cubic foot.

Although densities vary between mixes, the stated value is a standard rule-of-thumb ideal for estimation purposes. Reduced bulk rates may be available for considerably large projects.

 

Asphalt thickness based on load requirements

In most projects, a 4-inch depth is usually adequate. Nonetheless, 5 to 6 inches of full-depth asphalt guarantees a stable and strong paving ideal for a wide range of loads and climates. Some contractors make use of 6 to 8 inches of compacted gravel or aggregate as a base for 3-inch asphalt pavement. Routinely, the cost incurred to apply asphalt to a parking lot is cheaper than that of a driveway. The greater surface results in price reduction per square foot. Heavy loads require thicker asphalt layers resulting in a more significant budget.

 

Possible obstructions

The lifespan of any paved surface relies on proper drainage. In case there are obstructions, more work is needed to make enough room for the new asphalt paving. Extra work increases the cost necessary to construct the asphalt pavement to completion.

 

Distance to the nearest hot plant

Asphalt transport cost from the production plant to the project site is a considerable factor in budgeting. Also, the type of asphalt required affects transport costs. Hot mixes cost more to transport than warm blends.

Some suppliers manufacture in-house asphalt while others combine raw materials from various locations. The best and most dependable suppliers own and operate an asphalt plant. They use their manufactured materials to make the asphalt guaranteeing consistent and high-quality products.

 

Permit requirements

Any asphalt project connecting to a public road must satisfy necessary requirements of the municipality. A permit may be necessary, and in some cases, you may need to change plans to suit municipality requirements. Changes and acquisition of permits may result in increment of the project cost.

 

Quality of the base

High quality base guarantees durability. However, it also attracts high cost. Installing between 8 and 10 inches of gravel below your asphalt is essential for drainage. The higher the material quality of the base, the more expensive your asphalt project becomes.

It is undeniable that asphalt is the most preferred material for paving. Before any undertaking, prepare a budget. Include every detail that may change costs. If you’re working on a shoe string budget, consider consulting an expert to help you minimize cost and maximize quality. Call us today to speak with one.