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Who Pays for Building and Maintaining Highways?

As you drive down the road, you may not spend a lot of time thinking about who was responsible for building them. At the same time, the safety, security, and quality of our roads are tremendously important. What would happen if our roads were not well-maintained? You would have a hard time getting where you need to go. Therefore, if you are having issues with local roads and highways, who is responsible for building and maintaining them? There are several important points you should keep in mind.

Where Does the Funding Come From?

First, who is responsible for paying people to build and maintain our roads and highways? This usually comes in the form of taxes. Taxes are collected on numerous items. Then, this funding is used to construct our roads. For example, fuel taxes that are collected by the federal, state, and local governments are often used to keep the roads in good working order. And some parts of the country, there are also tolls that are placed on highways and bridges. If tolls are collected, these funds are used to maintain our roads and bridges as well.

Who Hires People To Build and Maintain Roads?

So, who makes the hiring decision? Who is responsible for hiring people to build and maintain our roads? The vast majority of roads and bridges fall under the responsibility of state and local governments. Even though the federal government does play a role, most professionals are hired by state and local governments to work on our roads and bridges. Therefore, it is responsible for those making hiring decisions to make sure they hire the right people for the job. That is where local contractors are essential.

Local Contractors Do the Vast Majority of the Work

When it comes to roads and bridges, the best people for the job are local contractors. Local contractors have the training and experience necessary to build and maintain our roads and bridges. For example, anyone who is planning on laying out a new road for the first time will have to work with contractors who can help them find the right material for the job.

Then, if a repair is needed down the road, this is something else that is also handled by a local contractor. It is critical to make sure the repair is completed properly on the first attempt. That is why state and local officials have to work with professional local contractors, placing them in the best positions possible to do their jobs well.

Enlist the Help of Superior Aggregates

If you want to make sure that your roads are constructed properly, then you have to work with a local asphalt company. With the help of a professional asphalt contractor, you can rest easy, knowing that your roads are going to be constructed properly on the first attempt. That is where Superior Aggregates can help you. We have an unparalleled level of experience when it comes to working with roads of all shapes and sizes. We can anticipate problems before they develop, circumventing them before they derail the project. If you want your project completed on time and under budget, it would be our pleasure to assist you. Give us a call today to learn more about how we can help you!

By admin Asphalt Paving • • • 0 Comments

Own a Commercial Property? Hire a Pro Parking Lot Contractor

A clean, well-maintained parking lot with clear markings and lighting is a catch, especially in countries where cars are the primary transport mode. In a commercial property, the parking lot makes the business’s first impression. A pro parking lot contractor keeps your commercial parking lot looking impressive and well-maintained.

What Do You Want Your Parking Lot To Say About Your Commercial Property?

If your parking is cracked, dented, and faded, your client automatically assumes that your services are equally worn-out and careless. It is unprofessional and risks damaging your client’s car. According to an INRIX report, 63% of US drivers avoid businesses with parking challenges.

But with a well-maintained parking lot, your clients have an easy time parking and will very likely come back to your property.

In a competitive market, businesses’ top priority is the customer experience. Customers are more willing to pay a premium for a great experience. Whether it’s the tenants or their customers, they demand the best parking experience.

Make Your Commercial Parking Lot Appealing

Parking lots are bound to depreciate. To make your commercial parking lot more appealing, then you need to fix any cracks, potholes, and drainage issues in your paved parking space. This means regular maintenance and repair.

Regular Maintenance

Sealcoating

The cheapest way to maintain an asphalt parking construction is a seal coating. Seal coating adds a protective layer to extend your asphalt parking lot’s life. It protects the surface from UV rays, oils, and water damage. The black coat gives a sleek and shiny look. It extends your parking space life by 2 to 3 years when done correctly.

Rehabilitation

If your asphalt parking lot is already in bad shape, call in a parking lot contractor to determine the best rehabilitation option. The contractor will walk you through your options and the estimated cost for rehabilitating your garage. You may choose to resurface or repave your parking lot.

Resurfacing Vs Repaving A Parking Lot

If your asphalt parking lot has cracks and dents that don’t reach the foundation layers, then an asphalt overlay can add up to 8 years more life to your parking lot. The paving contractor will fill up any dents, seal cracks, and repair drainage issues before applying a thick (1.5 to 2 inches deep) asphalt layer. This is resurfacing.

But if your parking lot is crumbling away with cracks and manholes, it cannot make a good foundation for an asphalt overlay. Your best option would be to replace the entire pavement. This is repaving.

Repaving is the most expensive and durable option. But it extends your pavement’s life up to 25 years or more. Hire an experienced and reputable asphalt company to get the most value for your money.

When To Repave Your Parking Lot

Repaving may be costly because the contractor removes the whole asphalt parking construction. They rebuild everything from the foundation to the surface. Asphalt companies recycle your old asphalt and mix it with new asphalt to reduce the repaving costs.

Repaving is the long-term solution to your parking lot problems. Sure, you may resurface a couple of times, but that does not repair your foundation. Small cracks will use an overlay, but serious damages require repaving. In the long run, you will need to replace the entire thing.

If your parking lot is older than 25 years, it’s time to repave. A new asphalt pavement will last you another 25 years with good maintenance (i.e. seal coating and resurfacing). It keeps your business looking professional and worthy.

A well-maintained parking lot shows that you care about your clients. You get more tenants, and your clients get more customers. Your clients will be less grumpy when you charge top dollar amounts. It’s a win-win.

Contract a pro parking lot contractor to learn how to reduce costs and plan the repaving without disrupting business.

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How to Make a Concrete Mold

Are you interested in creating a concrete mold by yourself? You need to make sure that you know how to do this safely. Furthermore, you also have to have the right materials. What are the steps that you need to follow if you want to successfully build a concrete mold? There are several steps to note.

Gather the Right Materials

First, you need to gather the right materials. You will need panels to create the mold, drywall screws, silicone caulk, bar clamps, ball bearing, a cordless drill, a circular saw, and a caulking gun. You will probably also want to wear latex gloves during this process.

Step 1: Cut the Panels

First, you have to cut the panel to the right size. A lot of people use a melamine board. If you would like to minimize chipping as you are going through the board, use a fine-tooth saw blade. Then, set the depth to just below the depth of the saw cut. Usually, this is about ⅞ of an inch.

Step 2: Clamp the Longer Side Walls to the Base of the Mold

Next, take the panels and lay them on a work surface. Place the longer walls on the edges. Hold them in place using the bar clamps.

Step 3: Drill the Pilot Holes

Once you are confident that the clamps are holding the board and place, drill several pilot holes spaced equal distances apart. Then, place the drywall screws through these holes. 1-inch drywall screws tend to work the best. Make sure that every screw is seated firmly. That way, the walls are drawn tight against the base. This will keep the mold in place when you use it.

Step 4: Add the Shorter Side Walls Next

After this, you should place the shorter sidewalls on their edges. Make sure they are next to the longer sides. Go through the same process with the shorter sides as you did with the longer side. Drill a few pilot holes. Then, add the screws. Make sure the screws are seated firmly to hold the concrete mold in place.

Step 5: Bevel the Corners

This is when you want to put on your gloves. Squirt a bead that is about half an inch in size of silicone caulk into every corner of the mold. After this, dip the ball bearing in some water. Draw the ball bearing down every caulked corner to make sure the curve is smooth.

Step 6: Clean Up Your Work by Removing Any Excess Caulk

Finally, wait for the silicone caulk to cure. Then, remove any excess silicone that may be in place. You may want to start by picking at the end of the strip with your fingernail. Then, pull any excess caulk away. Dispose of it safely.

Rely on a Professional Local Asphalt Company for Help Making a Concrete Mold

If this sounds like a complicated process, then you may want to reach out to a trained professional for assistance. With the help of an asphalt contractor, you can make sure that you do this job right the first time. If you do not have the right concrete mold, you may have a hard time finishing your project. Fortunately, there are professionals who have the training to make sure this process is performed correctly. You do not have to go through this alone. Do not hesitate to reach out to a professional for help.

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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.

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5 Types of Spring Road Hazards

Did you know that many people believe that during the spring season is the safest period to venture into the roads, unaware of the concrete problems that await them? Research undertaken by the US department of transport shows that drivers are cautious during winter when its ice snowy as compared to the warmer spring season.

As winter fades away and ushers in longer days and intense sunshine, more drivers in the country will be hitting the concrete roadways with overconfidence attitude because the ice has started to thaw. This assumption is not the case because, with the melting ice, new hazards crop up, creating real problems which end up disastrous.

During this anticipated and exhilarating moment of the spring season, hazards range from wet parking lot pavers, a proliferation of motorists, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and animals emerging from their hibernation to constant rainfall and hailstorms.

If you are a business owner, you should be aware of the following spring road hazards before embarking on a business trip or mission on the roads.

Active animals

Many animals hibernate during winter. When spring season starts, these animals initiate their nature and start migrating, mating, and looking for food. These animals can cross the roads abruptly without signaling, especially at dusk or dawn, when its harder to spot them.resulting to an accident.

Potholes

After the snow and ice vanishes through the thawing process in winter, it leaves dents on concrete roadways.plowa are deployed to tend the road during winter boring out chunks of the way leaving behind enormous potholes. Consequently, during the cold season, potholes are filled with ice and snow; hence their impact on automobiles and drivers is greatly minimized. When spring sprouts, ice, and snow thaws leave deep potholes that damage vehicles, they lead to accidents. Hitting potholes culminates in concrete problems like bent rims, malignment of your car, popping tires, and damaging suspension. Freezing and thawing lead to contracting and disintegration of concrete on pavements and parking lot pavers, leading to more extensive and expensive repairs.

Frequent rainstorms

According to a survey released by the federal highway administration, the rain was responsible for 46%of all weather-related accidents from 2005-2014. Storm proves to be the most treacherous weather-related driving hazard, especially when it mixes oil residue on wet pavement inducing hydroplaning. Heavy rainfall laden with wind can impede visibility and flood out roads quickly, making the paths slippery. These slippery roads reduce your vehicle handling ability leading to concrete problems like swerving, hydroplaning, and reduced tire traction caused by big puddles

Increased Motorcyclists and Bicyclist

During the warmer spring season, many motorcyclists and bicyclists will be hitting the road, this means that there will be increased traffic culminating into increased accidents. Due to the small sizes of motorcycles and bicycles, it becomes difficult to see them at a distance. This invisibility can result in an increased risk of accidents/deaths if the drivers don’t exercise extra caution since there are many distractions within his/her visibility. Drivers are encouraged to share the roads with them cautiously when nearing them to mitigate the chances of accidents.

Floods

The emergence of spring brings warm weather and longer days. However, it supersedes a variety of conditions that could be hazardous. These include heavy rains and rapid snowmelt, which aggravates the risk of flooding. This peril becomes a nightmare for drivers because fast-flowing water exerts pressure to contact areas like concrete pavements, hence reducing your vehicle’s handling ability.
Road trips during lovely spring weather can be the most breathtaking expedition as a driver. However, it’s of paramount importance to remember this can abruptly turn into a catastrophe. Being aware of spring road hazards can help you to navigate safely hence reducing chances of probable accidents.