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How to Sealcoat Edges

No matter why or where you are building a parking lot or sidewalk, sealcoating the edges is important for various reasons. By simply adding a thin liquid layer over the paved surfaces, sealcoating can help you maintain your parking lot or sidewalk for many years to come. That said, the following is an overview of the benefits of sealcoating as well as the steps you need to take to properly sealcoat your sidewalks and parking lots.

Benefits of Sealcoating

If you are wondering why you should sealcoat your sidewalks and parking lots, the most common benefits are as follows:

  • Prolongs Life Expectancy: One of the top benefits of sealcoating is that it helps to prolong the life expectancy of the asphalt pavement by providing a protective layer that helps to safeguard it against water, vehicle fluids, UV rays, and more. It also helps to fill in surface damage.
  • Saves Money: Given that sealcoating is a low-cost method, this helps you to save money over time on maintenance and other repairs.
  • Enhances Appearance: No matter if the asphalt is new or old, a fresh sealcoat will make your sidewalk or pavement look shiny and new.
  • Ice and Snow Protection: One special benefit of sealcoating is that it helps to accelerate the melting of ice and snow. Moreover, it also helps to protect the pavement from related issues such as water penetration, frost and/or snow damage.
  • Repair Minor Cracks and Other Wear and Tear: The process also allows you to repair minor cracks and other issues caused by everyday wear and tear.

How to Sealcoat

Now that we’ve gone over the benefits of sealcoating, let’s take a look at the steps you need to take to sealcoat your asphalt:

  1. Preparation: Before you can begin installing your sealcoat, you must prepare the area you are sealing. This means you will take the type to assess the condition of the area, clean the area with tools such as rotary brooms, commercial sweepers, and hand steel brooms. From there, you need to shut off nearby sources of water runoff, such as sprinkler systems.
  2. Repair: Once you have prepared the area, you must take the time to repair it. This involves filling cracks, repairing areas that have been seriously damaged, and repair things such as potholes.
  3. Application: After that, you will need to prepare the mixture to be applied to the asphalt. For longer-lasting results, apply two coats.
  4. Re-Striping: From there, you will need to re-stripe the pavement and/or apply any necessary markings that were covered during the process.
  5. Clean-Up: Lastly, you need to take the time to clean up and discard or store any trash and materials that are leftover.

Overall, if you are considering applying a sidewalk or parking lot sealcoat, you certainly should. Not only can it help to protect the pavement against ice and snow, extend the life of the pavement, help you save money on potentially costly repairs, and much more. While the process of applying a sealcoat is relatively easy, you should be sure that you have enough experience, knowledge, and stamina to complete such a job if you wish to do it yourself. Other than that, be sure to hire a qualified construction company you can trust.

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Spring Cleaning Your Parking Lot: A DIY Guide

Keeping a run down and the disheveled parking lot is a risky proposition. Holes in the asphalt can cause blown out tires, which is a nuisance and can lead to unnecessary tire repair requests. Customers tripping and falling on your property is even worse because they might hurt themselves and potentially sue for damages.

To avoid these scenarios, it’s best to focus on asphalt maintenance and repair. Tackle this project during the warm spring months to get your parking lot up to snuff. And then focus on maintenance to keep your property looking pristine and in good repair.

1. Regular Asphalt Cleanings Are an Absolute Must.

Cleaning your parking lot is about more than presenting an attractive appearance. While it’s certainly nice to keep a clean lot for your customers, cleaning and maintaining your lot will go a long way toward preserving the durability and lifespan of your asphalt.

Start by removing and eliminating all surface debris. Get rid of the garbage, leaves, and other trash and refuse built up marring the surface of your parking lot. By removing this gunk and debris on a regular basis, you’ll prevent damage and unsightly stains from ruining your attractive asphalt parking lot floor.

2. Fix Unsightly Potholes Using Proper Asphalt Repair.

Potholes are going to happen whether you like it or not. When water works its way underneath the pavement’s surface, it expands and contracts and gets underneath in the groundwater. This creates potholes that will otherwise ruin your asphalt.

Proper asphalt repair means completing the pothole repair process. This process consists of four steps and is simple enough for every DIY expert looking to save a couple of bucks by making the repairs themselves.

The 4 step process to fix potholes includes:

  • Cleaning out the pothole by removing unnecessary and unwanted dirt and debris that gets underneath the pavement. This debris can otherwise weaken a pothole repair.
  • Heating up the pothole is necessary for the elimination of excess moisture. Getting rid of this extra moisture from beneath the payment makes it possible to apply new asphalt.
  • Putting new asphalt in the pothole is the third step. For the most part, hot mix asphalt is the ideal choice to perform this repair. After applying it in the hole, you should compact the asphalt to increase resistance and ensure water reduction.
  • Cooling the new asphalt is the fourth and final step. If more debris is discovered around or near the repair, please remove it at this time.

All in all, it’s typically okay to drive on repaired potholes immediately after fixing the problem. So don’t worry about cordoning off the area because it’s an unnecessary inconvenience at best.

3. Sealcoating Is an Excellent Choice for Asphalt Maintenance.

Sealcoating is a powerful way to prolong the health and lifespan of your asphalt parking lot. Why? Simply put, it fills in the damaged areas on the surface by providing a protective coating.

Sealcoating is perfect because it prevents water damage, damage from vehicle fluid, and it even stops harm from powerful UV rays dead in its tracks. To achieve the best results with seal coating, you should apply a new coat every 3 to 5 years to gain maximum surface protection.

Each new seal coating application means giving your surface a fresh and updated look. It’s also the perfect way to guarantee proper asphalt maintenance.

Recap

In conclusion, please remember that parking lot of spring cleaning and maintenance is a must to keep your asphalt in excellent condition. Always remember to clean the surface, repair potholes as they pop up, and apply seal coating every 3 to 5 years to ensure proper maintenance and asphalt repair. If you follow these guidelines, your parking lot will maintain an attractive appearance for many years to come.

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What Are the Standard Dimensions of a Parking Space?

One of the more important decisions for a commercial space is the design of the parking lot. These lots should be safe to drive in, comfortable for customers to use, and compliant with regulations. However, there are no one-size-fits-all parking space dimensions in Colorado. The spaces vary depending on a number of factors, from curb angle to traffic and more.

First and most importantly, it’s critical to check your local regulations. These vary noticeably from one town or county to the next. Errors here, particularly for handicap accessible parking spaces, can result in hefty fines. Business owners may also face the cost and inconvenience of having to re-plan and re-paint the lot. A little due diligence can save you in the long run.

With that being said, here are some general guidelines to use as a starting point for parking lot planning:

Curb Angle

One critical factor to parking space size is the angle that the space is set to the curb. In most areas of Colorado, this angle will affect the space length and sometimes the width. For example, in Glendale a 45 degree parking stall must be 8’6” wide and project 17’4” from the curb. Increase that to 60 degrees and the stall must be 8’6” wide and project out by 18’10”.

Traffic patterns

A two-way drive aisle clearly needs to be wider than an aisle that only has one way traffic. However, they aren’t necessarily twice as wide. For instance, in Denver a parking aisle is a minimum of 13 feet wide for one way traffic and 20 feet wide for two-way traffic when the spaces are angled at zero degrees. If the spaces are set at 90 degrees, the parking aisle must be a minimum of 23 feet for both one way and two-way traffic.

Type of Parking Lot

In some areas such as Grand County, parking space sizes may vary depending on the kind of parking structure. Typical spaces in open areas may be 10 by 20 feet. Meanwhile, a covered or underground lot can reduce that to 9 by 18 feet.

Type of Vehicle

Certain areas allow smaller commercial parking spaces designated for compact cars only. In Denver, a standard parking space at 60 degrees might be 8.5 feet wide by 17.5 feet long. Meanwhile, a compact space of 60 degrees shaves that down to 7.5 wide by 15.5 long.

Bicycles and Parking Lots

Your business’s parking lot may be required to provide racks for a certain number of bicycles per parking spaces. For instance, in Glendale a parking lot with 50 or more spaces must provide racks for 1 bicycle per 20 spaces, rounding up. In other areas like Lakewood, bicycle spaces are mandated by the business’s square feet.

Handicap Accessibility

Handicap accessible parking spaces are subject to a wide variety of local and national regulations. Again, this is well worth your time to research. In general, these parking stalls are placed next to the front doors or handicap accessible ramp. One important factor to consider during planning is the access aisle. This space (in Glendale, it is 5 feet wide) allows unobstructed access for wheelchair users to enter and leave their vehicles. In many places, two handicap spaces may share the same access aisle.

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THE AVERAGE COST OF PREVENTING AND FIXING POTHOLES IN 2020

Pothole repair can be quite frustrating but it doesn’t have to be. By being proactive and fixing asphalt cracks, you can prevent potholes from occurring in the first place. However, if you need to fix potholes in the area where you live, there are professional options you can use. In this article, we’ll go over the basics behind how potholes are made and what the average cost of preventing and fixing potholes is in 2020.

How Potholes Are Made

Understanding how potholes are formed in the first place is one key to preventing them in the future. They are caused by the expansion and contraction of groundwater that is located underneath the pavement and can begin to form during the winter season thanks to the expansion of this groundwater that freezes as a result of the cooler temperatures. This expansion underneath the pavement causes cracks in the asphalt. Over time, as more cars and trucks pass over this area, the concrete material continues to weaken. This forms a hole that can trap melted water. This melted water can then freeze again and begin a cycle that leads to the expansion of the now formed pothole.

Pothole Fixing Costs

If this cycle has had enough time to repeat over and over and over again, you might find yourself face to face with a major problem, be it on your driveway, sidewalk, or roadway in front of your home. Especially with the winter here and cooler temperatures upon us, that groundwater has had time to freeze over and produce cracks in the pavement. The amount you pay depends heavily on the severity of the pothole which is why it is important to take notice of and fix asphalt cracks early on.

But going back to the matter at hand, the cost to fix pothole in 2020 will typically be around $100 to $350. Additional asphalt sealing costs can range from $200 to $600 and, again, depends on the severity of the pothole. Because fixing a pothole in freezing conditions, it is not for the faint of heart. Your best bet is to hire a trained professional that has experience with a wide range of pothole and asphalt crack issues. In addition to how large the pothole is that you are looking to fix, the quality of the materials, the slope of the pothole, and piping that needs to be taken into consideration and worked around can factor into raising costs.

Taking Preventative Measures

As we mentioned, pothole repair is not easy and you will be dejected after you find out that you’ve incorrectly filled the pothole with the wrong amount of concrete. However, by taking stock of your current driveway’s wellbeing, you can prevent potholes from occurring in the first place by dealing with those initial cracks. Even better, try finding the source of groundwater leakage and prevent it from freezing underneath the pavement. Some other precautionary measures you can take include repairing the crack as soon as possible with infill and overbanding to prevent water from entering the pavement and softening the material. Overbanding uses a thermoplastic material to stop water from entering the roadway surface and is ideal for high traffic areas.

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How Does Asphalt Paving Work

No matter if you are a beginner or a seasoned construction worker, knowing the proper method of asphalt paving can make or break your ability to be successful in this industry. No matter if you are starting your own company, work for someone else, or if you simply want to learn the basics of asphalt paving, you should know that the method is often the most important part of the job. That said, the following is a short guide on the basics of asphalt construction.

The 7 Areas of Pavement Construction

If you are searching for the basics of pavement construction, they are as follows:

  1. Site prep: Before you are able to begin paving, you must make sure the site is properly prepared. This can involve the replacement of areas that are extremely damaged, milling, applying of a leveling course, and more. Every site is different. However, you need to make sure each site is properly prepared before you can begin construction.
  2. Demolition and removal of old material: Next, you must demolish and remove any materials and debris that may stand to adversely affect your paving efforts. This can provide the use of bobcats, forklifts, large dump trucks, forklifts, heavy machinery, and more. The purpose of this step is to remove the existing surface, so your site can be prepared to receive the new asphalt.
  3. Grading: The purpose of this step is to make sure the area is prepared for the appropriate water drainage necessary to sustain the new pavement over time. Using various tools and technology (most often, laser transit), this step is done to ensure the new pavement will not be greatly damaged by rain, water, and other watery elements.
  4. Base: One of the most important parts of creating new asphalt pavement is to ensure that the sub-base is laid properly. As we know, having a stable foundation is vital to being able to properly build anything. This is because the sub-base serves as a stable support for new pavement. Additionally, the sub-base is also important because it can help protect the new asphalt from the winter elements.
  5. Binder: Next, the binder is added. This consists of a larger aggregate and oil mixture, which makes it exceptionally strong and durable. In short, the binder is considered to be the strength behind all new asphalt surfaces.
  6. Final surface layer: Once you had added the binder, it is now time to install the top layer of your asphalt surface. This is a smaller aggregate mixed with sand and soil. The combination of the previous material mixed with this layer creates the smooth, shiny, jet black asphalt, which most are accustomed to.
  7. Joints/transitions: Lastly, since most surfaces are connected to things such as driveways, parking lots, and roadways, asphalt construction workers must take the time to smooth the transition spaces between the new and older surfaces. This not only makes everything safer, smoother, and sturdier, but it also makes everything appear more uniform and professional.

Overall, there are various methods of asphalt paving. No matter which method you choose, you must be sure that you are completing each step with the utmost precision and professionalism. Otherwise, the new asphalt will become akin to old asphalt and will thus, will need to be redone by a contractor or company that can.