When should you Call Paving Contractors?

Asphalt pavements are durable, but their integrity can be compromised if the proper installation and maintenance measures are not observed. Prompt professional repairs, however, can reduce further asphalt pavement distress. It is advisable to consult paving contactors in the following scenarios:

When you find potholes and other pavement flaws

Over time, pavements develop linear or transverse cracks because of natural corrosion and improper asphalt application. If left untreated, the cracks form a characteristic alligator pattern that eventually gives way to potholes. Aging pavement consequently needs patching and milling or total replacement, depending on the extent of defects.

When you catch a catch basin problem

Patches of the pavement may accumulate water and other fluids due to drainage or catch basin problems. Insufficient cleaning may cause sediments to build up in this drain system. Aside from drain upkeep, uneven surfaces or inappropriate slopes that also contribute to the problem need to be repaired by a paving contractor.

When your dumpster is causing damages

To keep pests from burrowing underneath the dumpster, a thick concrete pad must be put in place. If a concrete pad is not installed, or if the existing one shows severe wear and tear, your paving contractor can perform the necessary repairs.

A paving company can also advise you on the appropriate maintenance measures, like sealcoating, which extend the life of the pavement. Such expert advice can help preserve your asphalt-paved property and enable you to get the full value of the investment.

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The Process of Consulting Paving Contractors

How does a consultation with paving contractors go? More importantly, how should it go? In trying to improve your property’s parking area, curbs, and driveways, you need to be particular with your problems, and the contractor needs to be specific with the services, as well.

Assessment

After that initial phone call, the contractor needs to comprehensively assess the areas concerned. You may have received complaints on some cracks or potholes in the pavement, or on hazardous, broken curbs and improper markings, etc. An expert should inspect the damages in order to recommend the plausible solutions.

Aside from repairing damages, you should also be keen about the routine maintenance of your pavements. For that, the contractor should assess the areas thoroughly before offering the appropriate upkeep measures and arriving at estimates or negotiations.

Available Solutions

The contractor should present all options for repairs and maintenance. For instance, some pavement damages can be patched or milled, while extensive deterioration may require total resurfacing. In these situations, you should be informed of the extent of the job and the implications to your business (e.g. whether you need to limit or stop operations temporarily).

Sweeping, sealcoating, and line striping are usually done for maintenance. Proactive paving contractors should detail the materials to be used and the benefits you can reap from them. Blacktop sealcoating, for instance, can extend the life of the asphalt and refurbish its uniform look. The professional company will also advise you regarding the project’s timeframe or routine schedule.

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Factors that Cause Deterioration of Pavements

Parking lots in commercial establishments, like offices and retail stores, are exposed to heavy traffic on a daily basis. For this reason, property owners and managers have to keep an eye out on any sign of pavement deterioration like potholes and cracks which can obstruct daily operations. Sadly though, heavy traffic is not the only cause for pavements to deteriorate. Here are some other causes:

Extreme heat

Summer temperatures experienced in the East Coast states like New York and New Jersey may not be as bad as ones experienced in Western states like Nevada and Arkansas, but NJ property owners still have a lot to worry about when it comes to extreme heat. Triple-digit temperatures can cause asphalt paving to buckle, making them unpassable and unsafe for vehicles.

Extreme cold

If extreme heat is not good for pavements, so is extreme cold. Here, when the mercury dips low, a frost heave occurs which allows water to get under the pavement. When the water turns to ice, the pavement expands and thus tends to blow up, leading to cracks.

Improper maintenance

At times, the weather doesn’t pose any problems at all, but pavements still deteriorate. Possibly the biggest reason? Improper maintenance. To prevent pavement damage due to improper maintenance, property owners should draw up regular cleaning and sealcoating plans with the help of professional paving contractors.

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What Gives Your Asphalt Parking Space a Hard Time?

Like other materials, asphalt has its weaknesses. So when you choose asphalt for your parking space, you have to know what can damage your asphalt. Reducing the effects of these elements to your parking space will save you from additional maintenance cost. Here are some of asphalt parking spaces’ greatest enemies.

Heavy Load

Horizontal structures like parking spaces are designed to deal with stationary and moving loads. However, there’s a set maximum tolerance for each type of pavement, particularly an asphalt-based one like your parking space. If your business involves regularly dumping huge amounts of waste products, provide a space away from the parking lot for the dumpster. Heavy dumpsters are known to leave obvious dents on asphalt pavements.

Radiation

When it's about radiation, the first thing that normally comes to mind is nuclear fallout. The truth is radiation is everywhere, namely sunlight, which can be dangerous to the health of your asphalt parking space. Sunlight can drain the oil holding asphalt particles together, causing them to slowly disintegrate. To prevent this, many trusted pavement companies apply a certain type of coating on the asphalt surface.

Crude Oil

While asphalt contains oil, this isn’t referring to crude oil. Many vehicles parking on your parking lot may leave spills of crude oil derivatives on the asphalt surface. These products can cause asphalt molecules to disintegrate and, in the long run, become as coarse as typical soil. 

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