Common Enemies of Asphalt Pavement

Many business owners prefer asphalt to concrete pavement for various reasons. Among other things, asphalt is more economical yet just as durable as concrete when used only for lightweight vehicle parking. In addition, asphalt looks more appealing than concrete while the smoothness of its surface keeps friction to a minimum. Yet like concrete, asphalt has its weaknesses that, if addressed properly, can be surmounted.

Heavy Loads

Most asphalt pavements are designed for vehicles no larger than a mini-truck. A large truck will leave tracks on the asphalt, so allowing such a heavy load to sit on the pavement for a long period may create a few centimeters of depression. Even heavy dumpsters have to be parked well away from an asphalt pavement or on a concrete padding to prevent the same consequence.

Sunlight

Unfortunately, asphalt is susceptible to sunburn. It can easily lose its dark color due to extended exposure to sunshine. The heat from the sun can also hasten the oxidation of asphalt’s oil component, weakening its ability to hold the rocks together. This leads to quick disintegration of aggregates, which causes the formation of potholes.

Surface Water

Water affects asphalt just as much as sunlight does. In particular, water loosens the bond between the asphalt and the aggregates, causing the pavement to slowly collapse and form cracks. To prevent this from happening, the entire asphalt pavement must be designed with proper drainage. In addition, all water formation in uneven areas across the pavement must be removed right away.

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Asphalt Paving: A Close Inspection

In both American and British English, there exists a figurative phrase “pave the way,” which actually dates as far back as the 1580s. “Pave the way” means to “make smooth.” This particular meaning still stands until today, but the word “paving” itself is now typically associated with roads, driveways, and parking lots.

Property owners have two main options to smoothen out any rough or uneven surface within their property: asphalt or concrete paving. Both of these bear similarities when it comes to their composition since the two are made using aggregate or crushed rock and sand. However, the binding agent in concrete paving is cement mixed with water, while it’s bitumen for asphalt paving.

Bitumen is something that many may have heard of but likely don’t have any idea of what it is. It is a highly viscous liquid that is derived from petroleum or oil deposits typically appearing as brown-black. The substance is known for its adhesive and waterproofing properties, which is why it is often used in roofing and construction applications.

Once laid out, asphalt paving can serve property owners for many years since it’s highly durable and weather-resistant. However, as with any type of paving, the key is to have a solid foundation. Thus, those who are planning an asphalt paving project are encouraged to first build a solid foundation layer.

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When is NJ Asphalt Paving Maintenance Necessary?

Asphalt pavement maintenance is a challenge for commercial establishments with parking lots and outdoor driveways. Aside from keeping these surfaces clean, these asphalt pavements need to be routinely checked and reinforced for the convenience and safety of the numerous employees and customers that use them. That said, when is NJ asphalt paving maintenance necessary?

Before knowing when it's appropriate to perform maintenance, you have to understand why asphalt pavements deteriorate. These surfaces are often exposed to chemicals such as oil and gasoline that leak from vehicles. Traffic, heat from the sun, moisture from wet weather conditions, cleaning methods, and other factors also attack the asphalt pavement. These are the agents that weaken the binders in the asphalt and lead to the deterioration of the pavement.

When the wear and tear factors take their toll, the asphalt paving can erode, crack, incur uneven color, and become less smooth. Loose stones, sand, and gravel, essential to asphalt, can also scatter and cause uncomfortable driving and even accidental injuries to passersby. Rougher roads are also known to decrease fuel efficiency and tarnish the mechanical parts and tires of vehicles faster.

The most cost-effective way to preserve the quality and extend the life of asphalt pavements is by preventive maintenance. Sealcoating should be applied every two to three years or more often, as dictated by the volume of traffic and load that the pavement encounters. This avoids costlier repairs and even costlier consequences of pavement deterioration.

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Asphalt Assault: Repairing Damaged Blacktop Surfaces

You'll commonly see asphalt on roads, pavements, airport runways, and even on parking lots. Lauded for its waterproof qualities, as well as its ease of application, asphalt—also referred to as blacktop—is the composite material of choice when it comes to modern road construction. Asphalt pavements consist of a subbase, an asphalt base, and an asphalt concrete surface guaranteed to withstand heavy vehicular loads and varying weather conditions.

Yet despite such tough qualities, asphalt can still take a beating and sustain severe damage. Asphalt concrete can crack with sufficient force. Heavy vehicles can put significant strain on asphalt, while repeated exposure to traffic and extreme temperature swings can eventually crack the surface of any asphalt pavement. Substandard road construction quality is another cause for concern.

To address these factors, asphalt surfaces need to be repaired immediately upon detecting signs of damage on the surface. In most cases, a layer of bitumen is poured over the cracks to seal them off and prevent moisture from causing further havoc. If a strip of pavement appears to be in very poor shape, nothing short of complete and proper reconstruction can fix it. Asphalt might be as tough as they say, but without proper treatment and maintenance, it can crack just like anything else.

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Black, Not Bruised: All About the Material Called Asphalt

Unless you've been living under a rock, you simply can't miss asphalt. The slick black substance comprises the very roads you drive on, as well as the shingles found on many homes. However, before it ended up beneath your feet and above your head, the ancients had quite different uses for asphalt.

In those days, asphalt went by another name: bitumen. The black pitch was commonly used to coat baskets and to waterproof ship hulls. The Sumerians even used the stuff as mortar to secure bricks in place. When refined and hardened, bitumen could be sculpted. Recent discoveries, meanwhile, point out that bitumen was wrongly thought to have been the stuff that the ancient Egyptians used to embalm their dead and during the mummification process.

Yet how exactly did a multipurpose product discovered in the ancient world end up as today's preferred road-building material? The answer lies in asphalt's unique characteristics. Aside from being exceptionally waterproof, asphalt is also incredibly durable and resistant to wear and tear so long as it is dried properly. It also holds up rather well against extreme temperatures. Indeed, asphalt has come a long way since ancient times and continues to benefit humanity in a number of different ways.

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