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Asphalt Repairs Your Parking Lot May Need This Spring in Colorado

Has your asphalt driveway or parking lot gotten hammered this winter? You aren’t alone. However, with the right products and a few DIY skills, you may be able to repair the damage and prevent future issues.

Prevention Tips

The number one repair tip is to prevent damage before it starts. Some ideas here include:

  • Repair small cracks in the fall so they won’t worsen over the winter.
  • Clear debris away so it doesn’t scratch up the asphalt.
  • In colder months, regularly shoveling snow to minimize pools of standing water.

Repair Tips

When it comes to pavement, it’s always better to tackle problems sooner rather than later. Tiny cracks can become deep crags and potholes faster than you think. Here are four problems and what to do about them:

Is Your Asphalt Cracked?

There are several products you can get from local home repair centers for fixing asphalt cracks. Look for a two part kit that includes melt-in filler and cover mix that is troweled in. Follow the instructions on the box, but in general you will:

  1. Clean the cracked area well so the filler will adhere.
  2. Press the filler into place.
  3. Melt it in with a blowtorch.
  4. Trowel on a patch.
  5. Let it cure for a full 24 hours.  Rain will ruin the job.

Are There Pits in the Asphalt?

If you notice these where cars are parked, they could be from leaked motor oil and coolants. Smaller pits can be repaired with a patch in a similar process as with cracked asphalt. However, keep in mind that you’ll need to clear the oil out first. Use a product designed to cut oil, prime the area with oil stain primer, and then patch as above. If you still notice shallow pits, make a second pass with the patching to create a flat, sealed surface.

Do You Have Potholes?

These large pits can damage both ankles and vehicles, and if left untreated they will continue to grow. However, if you’re up for another trip to the hardware store, these are straightforward to patch. Get a bagged product and follow the instructions. The general procedure is:

  1. Clear the pothole of bigger chunks of debris
  2. Scoop or pour about two inches of asphalt patch into the hole.
  3. Use a shovel, tamping tool, or the blunt end of a firewood log to compact the material. The more compact you can get it, the better.
  4. Repeat steps 2-3 in two inch increments until it’s level.
  5. Add a small crown. This will compensate for the patch settling over time.
  6. Cure and seal.

Are There a Mix of Problems? Do You See Rippling or Sagging Asphalt?

If your driveway has more minor issues than you can easily count, it may be time for a full resurfacing. On the other hand, if you notice large slumped areas or ripples, that’s a worrying sign of possible damage to the surface under the asphalt. In both cases you’re looking at a big job to fix the situation.

It’s probably time to walk past your garage of tools and patch kits and head straight to your phone. Call in the pros. A professional repair company will know how to handle your damaged asphalt in a fast, efficient way and get things fixed right the first time around.

By admin Asphalt Paving • • • • • 0 Comments

Asphalt Sealing: How to protect your parking lot from sun damage

Asphalt parking lots are great if you’re looking for something relatively affordable and easy to install, but keeping them pristine means doing what you can to block out the sun. During the hottest months of summer, the hot sun beating down on the asphalt can take quite a toll. If you’re looking for a way to better protect your asphalt parking lot, check out these five tips.

1. Basic coat

The easiest thing you can do if you want to protect your parking lot from sun damage is to apply a standard asphalt sealing coat. These sealing coats come in all sorts of different varieties, but they’re all designed to protect your parking lot from damage due to the sun, water or rock pitting. Keep in mind that the type of coat you choose will determine the quality of your seal, so it’s important to choose the right one if protection is a priority. This coat should be applied once a year.

2. Slurry Sealer

Standard asphalt sealing coats are good when it comes to providing some protection, but they don’t do a lot to change the actual texture of your parking lot. Slurry sealers are designed with lots of aggregate in the sealer, which means crackes and holes in your asphalt parking lot are filled while the asphalt is sealed to keep out UV rays and water. However, these seals require about 24 hours to dry and cure, so you need to have some time on your hands.

3. Microsurfacing

Microsurfacing is another popular choice when it comes to sealing asphalt parking lots. This is essentially a type of slurry seal that’s designed to set a lot quicker, which means you don’t have to keep traffic off your asphalt as long. This is an expensive option but a good one if you’re looking for a way to put a solid seal on a high-traffic area.

4. TRMSS

This isn’t the most popular type of sealer for residential and light commercial use, but tire rubber modified surface sealer is great if you need a strong seal for areas that consistently get heavy traffic. This rubberized sealer does a great job of replenishing the oils your asphalt parking lot needs while spreading aggregate to help fill cracks and small holes. TRMSS is most often used for things like streets and airport runways.

5. Fill Cracks

While your asphalt parking lot is always going to have some level of exposure to the sun, you can seriously cut down on the effect that exposure has by filling the cracks and holes in your parking lot regularly. Make sure you’re keeping an eye on your asphalt so you can be aware of damage right when it happens and get it fixed right away. While this won’t replace a good sealer, filling the cracks in your parking lot is crucial.

As great as asphalt parking lots are, they require a bit of upkeep if you really want to get the most out of them. The good news is, taking the time to seal and repair your parking lot when it’s needed will prevent damage from UV rays, water and rock pitting and will keep your lot looking great for years.

By admin Construction • • • • • • • • 0 Comments

5 Different Ways to Get the Best Value from your Concrete Contractor

Whether you’re looking for concrete poured for a parking area, patio, or other project, you want to be sure that you’re getting the best value. How? Look for experienced professionals who will respect your time and financial budget while still bringing their expert opinion. This may sound like a tall order, but you can pull it off in five straightforward ways:

1: Do Your Homework

Research contractors in the area to help you narrow down a potentially large field of experienced businesses. See if you can find online reviews or talk to references.

Once you move on to getting a quote from the top contenders, do a little more digging. Do they have experience with the specific job you have in mind? More importantly, do their qualifications check out?

Unfortunately, some unscrupulous companies exaggerate or invent qualifications that they haven’t earned. This could mean:

  • poor results that don’t hold up to the elements
  • features not up to code
  • an expensive headache as another contractor tries to fix the mess

2: Get On the Same Page

Once you’ve decided on a concrete contractor, make sure that the two of you are on the same page about the project. Explain clearly what you want and listen to the contractor’s expert recommendations. Discuss any concerns you may have, for instance with zoning laws or requirements for home insurance. Finally, read through the written contract itself. If there are any areas that you don’t understand, bring them up before you put your signature down.

3: Beware of Cutting Corners

The price tag for this job matters, but it’s not the only important factor. Watch out for contractors who trim costs by using low grade materials or rushing through steps in the pouring process. It’s also not a good idea to cut corners time-wise. Over the long term, rushed jobs tend to have poor results.

On a related note, be careful with concrete curing times. Don’t continue your project until that surface is completely cured. You could cause a lot of damage to the concrete itself.

4: Be Prepared to Compromise…

On your schedule, that is. Experienced, in-demand concrete contractors may have their workdays planned for weeks in advance. If they aren’t available for the day you were counting on, see if there’s another date that could work for you. It may be worthwhile to shuffle your renovation schedule around a bit.

You may also want to compromise on small details of your project. If your concrete contractor strongly advises that you adjust something, there’s probably a good reason. Remember that you hired them in part for their expertise. Most contractors genuinely want you to get the best possible result and enjoy your concrete features for years to come. They are your partners in this stage of the project, so hear them out and make your best judgment call.

5: … But Know When to Stick to Your Guns

Ultimately, you know what you’re looking for and what your budget looks like. Your contractor may suggest a variety of upsells. These could include stamping patterns into the concrete surface or some fancy new sealant. Extra features aren’t necessarily a bad idea. In fact, they could potentially raise the value of the property and increase the longevity of the concrete. However, if your budget or vision for the property doesn’t include them, put your foot down. Ultimately you have the last word.

 

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

Resurfacing Concrete With Asphalt

Concrete is an inexpensive building material that shows up in a number of domestic and commercial applications. It is often used for floors, driveways, sidewalks, and even parking lots. However, concrete has limitations. These problems may show up over time or as the concrete weathers:

  • Unsightly staining. This can range from mold to spilled garage chemicals to simple weathering that gives it a dull look.
  • Cracks. These may start from impacts, extreme temperatures, or water. They can start out small but, if not addressed, will spread and worsen.
  • Surface pitting. This kind of damage, which may come from sources like weather or chemical contact, makes the concrete vulnerable to cracking. It is also unsightly.
  • Potholes. These can develop and worsen during use.
  • Bulges. They may appear after a winter and hint at potential water damage. Bulges also stress and weaken the concrete in these areas.
  • Erosion. If you see erosion in the earth under the edges of the concrete, this is a sure sign of water flowing down there.

What can you do if you notice these issues? Can you prevent trouble before it develops? In both cases, you may want to resurface your concrete with asphalt.

What is Asphalt Resurfacing?

Asphalt resurfacing involves placing a solid layer of asphalt over the existing concrete. It does not involve removing the concrete or randomly patching problems. Resurfacing creates a smooth surface that is pedestrian and vehicle friendly. It also does not allow water to seep in and cause damage.

What Are the Advantages of Asphalt?

Asphalt has a number of advantages over concrete. These include:

  • Price. Asphalt is often a more budget-friendly solution than pouring new concrete. It may be half the price or less.
  • Durability. Due to how it’s made, asphalt tends to hold up better to harsh weather. If you live in an area with intense winters, asphalt may be the better choice.
  • Easy maintenance. Asphalt is easy to remove snow and ice from. It holds up better to road salting. Snow and ice melt faster on this heat-retaining surface. Finally, due to the color, it does not show stains as much.
  • Easy repair. When concrete gets damaged, you will typically need to replace or resurface it. Meanwhile, asphalt can be directly repaired. The material bonds well to patches and new areas. This makes it easy to repair cracks and other damage.
  • Quick installation. Asphalt has a noticeably quicker time for installation, making it a great fit for businesses that don’t want to shut down for very long.
  • Repaving is easy. Because asphalt is made of a number of layers, it is straightforward to remove and replace just the surface.

Take it To the Pros

When it comes to surfaces you walk and drive on, you want to make sure it gets done right the first time around. It’s vital to create a smooth surface that won’t harm tires or cause people to trip. Large areas like parking lots may require banking so water drains properly. It’s also important that the surface creates a seal, keeping water out. Water can cause a lot of damage, especially during freezing winters.

This is why it’s essential to hire experienced professionals. The right company can evaluate what your home or business needs. They’ll give you a quote and get the job done quickly.

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

4 Ways Asphalt Paving in Colorado Helps the Community

Asphalt paving is a vital part of the transportation infrastructure for Colorado. This type of pavement provides a safe, cost-effective and environmental friendly for the roads, bridges and parking areas. It plays a significant role in the Colorado community. Asphalt pavements is a combination of aggregates of stone, gravel or sand that are bound together using some asphalt cement, which is derived from crude oil.

A large percentage (94%) of American roads and highways are paved with asphalt. Construction and maintenance of these smooth asphalt pavements is cost-effective, eco-friendly, and completely recyclable. They offer a safe and long-lasting surface for all types of transportation modes such as foot trails, bike trails, roads and airport runways.

Some benefits of asphalt paving are:

1. Quieter Roads

Noise pollution is everywhere. One of the best ways to lower road noise is to deal with the issue at its source. By using asphalt pavements on roadways, noise in residential areas and businesses can be lowered significantly. Stone Matrix Asphalt can reduce road noise by 3-5 dB(A). Using asphalt to combat highway noise is even more effective than noise barrier walls.

2. Recyclable

Asphalt pavement and processing facilities have very low carbon footprint. Asphalt Pavement Alliance says that production of asphalt pavements emits less greenhouse gases compared to other concrete pavements. Asphalt pavements are highly recycled in America. 100 million tonnes of this type of pavements are reclaimed every year, and out of that, more than 95 percent is recycled or reused, thus saving the taxpayers money and less use of landfills.

Sustainability is very important in today’s society. Asphalt can be used over and over again, like an infinite life cycle. This one of the biggest reasons why asphalt is popularly used across the country. Most companies strive to use environment friendly materials; the recyclable nature of asphalt makes it a great product.

3. Create new jobs

A career in the asphalt industry means job security. Road construction is always happening in Colorado; new roads are being installed while existing roads require regular maintenance to enhance safety. From repairing potholes, to filling cracks, asphalt contractors are always busy trying to keep the Colorado roads clear, smooth and safer for drivers. Furthermore, construction of new business buildings means a need for parking lots installation as well as regular maintenance, which means job security in this field is great.

The asphalt pavement industry offers: local jobs that are usually pay well and last for long, heightened community transport infrastructure, improved standards of living for the local people, eco-friendly products, and economic development.

4. Asphalt is great for winter roads

Winter can be hard on pavements; the freezing, thawing, deicers, plowing and the immense weight of plow trucks contribute more to the damaging effects of the cold weather. However, some pavements can hold up better than other during this season.

Extreme winter weather can ruin paved surfaces. Asphalt pavement is not only quick to install, but is resistant to harsh weather too. Asphalt roadways can be able to withstand cold temperatures during weather in both the low traffic and high traffic areas.

Hot-mix asphalt is the best when it comes to ensuring that the roadways are free of potholes and cracks during winter. It is asphalt pavement that is poured immediately after mixing aggregates of sand and stone with petroleum on to the road while the mixture is still hot. The hot-mix asphalt is strong and long-lasting, resistant to freezing and thawing, not affected by deicing agents, flexible, cost-effective, and needs little maintenance.