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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Avoid Legal Woes with Pothole Patching for Parking Lots

If you manage a building with its own parking lot, proper maintenance is extremely crucial because in time, the parking lot's surface will develop potholes. Potholes form as small cracks on road surfaces that are usually caused by exposure to heat as well as heavy vehicular traffic. Rainwater that seeps through the cracks freezes during cold weather then expands, causing bigger holes to appear on the pavement. These unattractive potholes can affect the image of your establishment and pose safety hazards.

Potholes not only affect your property's curb appeal but can also land you in hot water. While most motorists just drive past potholes, pedestrians can slip and fall and thus find sufficient grounds to file personal injury cases against you. You may end up paying hefty settlement fees for medical treatment as well as damages for emotional distress. Aside from the the actual settlement, you'll have to pay lawyer's the fees as well.

To avoid costly litigation, be sure to regularly inspect your parking lot's pavement for any signs of damage. You might want to get in touch with companies that specialize in parking lot maintenance, particularly pothole patching. Through proper parking lot maintenance, you can run your business in peace and avoid lawsuits.

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Finding a Place to Park Can be Like Finding Heaven on Earth

Anyone who lives and/or works in a densely populated city can cite a number of things that tick them off on a daily basis. Heavy traffic is one such source of annoyance, as well as having to share the road with some discourteous motorists. However, what can really frustrate city dwellers who happen to be motorists is the lack of parking space.

Sometimes, it may be tempting to just take public transportation than use your own car and waste time and gas trying to find somewhere you can park. If you do find an available parking slot, you'll have to act fast and reach it right away or else lose the space to another motorist. This can sometimes lead to an accident or a verbal tussle.

In addition, some parking lots may be filled with large potholes or badly cracked asphalt surfaces. While you may have found a suitable parking space, you may have to endure a short but nonetheless bumpy ride. When you have no other alternative, such a situation can be quite irritating.

Luckily, parking lot maintenance has become a lot easier and more convenient thanks to companies that provide asphalt paving services. With their help, motorists don't have to put up with poor-quality road work and be able to use pothole-free parking spaces.

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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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